Shloka 21
विस्मय: सर्वभूतानां समपद्यत भारत । भारत! वे दोनों महामनस्वी अस्त्रविद्याके विद्वान् तथा विचित्र प्रकारसे युद्ध करनेवाले थे। उन्हें देखकर समस्त प्राणियोंको बड़ा विस्मय हुआ || २० है ।। दुःशासनस्तु नकुलं प्रत्युद्याय महाबलम्
vismayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ samapadyata bhārata | bhārata! tau dvau mahāmanasvī astravidyāyāḥ vidvāṃsau tathā vicitra-prakāreṇa yuddha-karaṇau tau dṛṣṭvā samasta-prāṇināṃ mahān vismayaḥ abhavat || duḥśāsanas tu nakulaṃ pratyudyāya mahābalam ||
三阇耶说道：“噢，婆罗多啊，惊异攫住了一切众生。那两位大心的战士精通兵器之学，以奇异多变之法交战；众生见之，无不骇叹。随后，力大无比的杜沙萨那上前，欲与那俱罗对阵。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary martial skill can captivate even amid violence, implicitly pointing to the Kṣatriya ideal of prowess and discipline; yet the surrounding narrative reminds the reader that such brilliance unfolds within a tragic conflict where ethical choices and consequences remain paramount.
Sañjaya reports that the combat between two eminent, weapon-skilled warriors astonishes all onlookers; immediately thereafter, the focus shifts as Duḥśāsana, a powerful Kaurava, advances to engage Nakula in battle.