Shloka 28
Vāg-yuddha and Nimitta-darśana before the Gadāyuddha
Verbal Duel and Omens
उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ यमवासवयोरिव
sañjaya uvāca | ubhau sadṛśa-karmāṇau yamavāsavayor iva, mahārāja! śatrūṇāṃ santāpa-denau te dvau mahābalī vīrau yamarāja-indra-varuṇa-śrīkṛṣṇa-balarāma-kubera-madhu-kaiṭabha-sunda-upasunda-rāma-rāvaṇa-bāli-sugrīvavat parākramaṃ darśayantaḥ kāla-mṛtyu-samāv iva pratibhānti |
Wika ni Sañjaya: O dakilang hari, ang dalawang makapangyarihang bayani ay magkatulad sa kanilang mga gawa, gaya nina Yama at Vāsava (Indra). Sila’y tagapagpahirap ng mga kaaway, nagpapamalas ng lakas na maihahambing kina Yama, Indra, Varuṇa, Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma, Kubera; at sa mga tanyag na magkatunggali—Madhu at Kaiṭabha, Sunda at Upasunda, Rāma at Rāvaṇa, Bāli at Sugrīva—at tunay ngang wari’y sila ang Panahon at Kamatayan mismo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, in war, extraordinary martial power can appear godlike and even resemble the inevitability of Time and Death—reminding the listener that human conflict, when driven to extremes, becomes an arena where fate and mortality dominate ethical choice.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that two opposing champions on the battlefield are matching each other in deeds and ferocity, and he heightens the scene by comparing their prowess to major gods and legendary pairs of rivals, suggesting an apocalyptic intensity.