Shloka 21
Duryodhana-patana-anuśocana
The Fall of Duryodhana and the Contest of Restraint
धनंजयस्तु श्रुत्वैतत् केशवस्य महात्मन: । प्रेक्षतो भीमसेनस्य सव्यमूरूमताडयत्,महात्मा भगवान् केशवका यह वचन सुनकर अर्जुनने भीमसेनके देखते हुए अपनी बायीं जाँघको ठोंका
dhanañjayas tu śrutvैतat keśavasya mahātmanaḥ | prekṣato bhīmasenasya savya-mūrum atāḍayat ||
檀那阇耶（阿周那）听闻大魂的计舍婆之言，当着毗摩塞那的注视，猛击自己的左大腿——以此昭示决意，并发出挑衅之势。
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how counsel from a trusted guide (Keśava) can crystallize a warrior’s resolve; in a dharmic crisis, intention and commitment are reinforced through public, accountable action—yet such gestures also carry ethical weight because they escalate hostility.
After hearing Keśava’s statement, Arjuna, in Bhīma’s presence, strikes his left thigh as a forceful sign of determination and challenge, underscoring the intensity of vows and the psychological warfare operating alongside physical combat.