Shloka 23
Gadā-yuddhe Bhīma–Duryodhanayoḥ Tumulaḥ Saṃprahāraḥ
Mace-duel’s intense exchange
एकाह्वा विनिहत्येमं भविष्याम्यात्मनोडनृण: । अद्यायुर्धार्राष्ट्रस्थ दुर्मतेरकृतात्मन:
ekāhvā vinihatyemaṁ bhaviṣyāmyātmano 'nṛṇaḥ | adyāyur dhārtarāṣṭrastha durmater akṛtātmanaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：“我将与此人单挑，挑战而斩杀之，便可偿清我对自身的债。今日，那与持国诸子同党、心术邪恶而不自律之人的性命将告终。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames combat as a matter of personal obligation and honor: by fulfilling a vowed challenge and overcoming an opponent, one becomes ‘anṛṇa’—free of a self-imposed debt. It also contrasts disciplined resolve with the moral failing implied by ‘durmati’ (evil-minded) and ‘akṛtātman’ (lacking self-control).
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s determination to challenge an enemy to single combat and kill him that very day, describing the opponent as aligned with the Dhārtarāṣṭras (the Kaurava camp) and characterized by poor judgment and lack of self-restraint.