In the final moments leading to the legendary mace duel, Sanjaya recounts to the blind King Dhṛtarāṣṭra how his son Duryodhana faced Bhīma, watched by their shared guru Baladeva. Upon seeing Baladeva arrive, welcomed with reverence by Yudhiṣṭhira and the Pāṇḍavas, Duryodhana is elated. Baladeva acknowledges Kurukṣetra’s sanctity, declaring it a place where the fallen attain heaven, and chooses to witness the duel, taking his seat among kings and warriors.
Duryodhana, ablaze with pride and wrath, challenges Bhīma to a duel that stirs awe among gods and mortals alike. The warriors, likened to raging storms and fiery serpents, embody equal strength and resolve—echoing epic rivalries like Rāma and Rāvaṇa. As Duryodhana addresses Yudhiṣṭhira with defiance and the two combatants exchange heated words, the battlefield becomes a sacred stage for final reckoning, their clash destined to decide the fate of the Kuru line.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं तदभवद् युद्धं तुमुलं जनमेजय ।
यत्र दुःखान्वितो राजा धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ १॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca evaṃ tadabhavad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ janamejaya |
yatra duḥkhānvito rājā dhṛtarāṣṭro’bravīdidam || 1||
Vaishampayana said Thus, O Janamejaya, that battle became exceedingly tumultuous. In the midst of that dreadful conflict, King Dhritarashtra, overwhelmed with sorrow, uttered these words.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
रामं संनिहितं दृष्ट्वा गदायुद्ध उपस्थिते ।
मम पुत्रः कथं भीमं प्रत्ययुध्यत संजय ॥ २ ॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
rāmaṃ saṃnihitaṃ dṛṣṭvā gadāyuddha upasthite |
mama putraḥ kathaṃ bhīmaṃ pratyayudhyata saṃjaya || 2 ||
Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, seeing Rama present at the battlefield, when the mace duel was about to commence, how did my son stand against Bhima in combat?
संजय उवाच
रामसांनिध्यमासाद्य पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव ।
युद्धकामो महाबाहुः समहृष्यत वीर्यवान् ॥ ३ ॥
saṃjaya uvāca
rāmasāṃnidhyamāsādya putro duryodhanastava |
yuddhakāmo mahābāhuḥ samahṛṣyata vīryavān || 3 ||
Sanjaya said O King, upon seeing Rama present on the field, your son Duryodhana, that mighty-armed and valiant warrior, was filled with great delight, eager as he was for battle.
दृष्टवा लाङ्गलिनं राजा प्रत्युत्थाय च भारत ।
प्रीत्या परमया युक्तः समभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि ॥ ४ ॥
आसनं च ददौ तस्मै पर्यपृच्छदनामयम् ।
dṛṣṭavā lāṅgalinaṃ rājā pratyutthāya ca bhārata |
prītyā paramayā yuktaḥ samabhyarcya yathāvidhi || 4 ||
āsanaṃ ca dadau tasmai paryapṛcchadanāmayam |
Seeing Rama, the wielder of the plow, King Duryodhana rose in reverence, O Bharata. With utmost respect, he duly honored him, offered him a seat, and inquired about his well-being.
ततो युधिष्ठरं रामो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥ ५ ॥
मधुरं धर्मसंयुक्तं शूराणां हितमेव च ।
मया श्रुतं कथयतामृषीणां राजसत्तम ॥ ६ ॥
कुरुक्षेत्रं परं पुण्यं पावनं स्वर्गमेव च ।
दैवतैऋषिभिर्जुष्टं ब्राह्मणैश्च महात्मभिः ॥ ७ ॥
tato yudhiṣṭharaṃ rāmo vākyametaduvāca ha || 5 ||
madhuraṃ dharmasaṃyuktaṃ śūrāṇāṃ hitameva ca |
mayā śrutaṃ kathayatāmṛṣīṇāṃ rājasattama || 6 ||
kurukṣetraṃ paraṃ puṇyaṃ pāvanaṃ svargameva ca |
daivataiṛṣibhirjuṣṭaṃ brāhmaṇaiśca mahātmabhiḥ || 7 ||
Then Rama, addressing Yudhishthira, spoke these words filled with righteousness and the well-being of warriors: "O best of kings, I have heard from the Rishis that Kurukshetra is a supremely sacred land, a purifier, and verily a gateway to heaven. It is revered by gods, sages, and great Brahmanas alike."
तत्र वै योत्स्यमाना य देहं त्यक्ष्यन्ति मानवाः ।
तेषां स्वर्गे ध्रुवो वासः शक्रेण सह मारिष ॥ ८ ॥
tatra vai yotsyamānā ya dehaṃ tyakṣyanti mānavāḥ |
teṣāṃ svarge dhruvo vāsaḥ śakreṇa saha māriṣa || 8 ||
O King, those men who lay down their lives while fighting on this sacred field will undoubtedly ascend to heaven and dwell eternally with Indra himself.
तस्मात् समन्तपञ्चकमितो याम द्रुतं नृप ।
प्रथितोत्तरवेदी सा देवलोके प्रजापतेः ॥ ९ ॥
tasmāt samantapañcakamito yāma drutaṃ nṛpa |
prathitottaravedī sā devaloke prajāpateḥ || 9 ||
Therefore, O king, let us swiftly proceed to Samantapanchaka, which in the celestial realms is known as the Northern Altar of Brahman, the Lord of all creatures.
तस्मिन् महापुण्यतमे त्रैलोक्यस्य सनातने ।
संग्रामे निधनं प्राप्य ध्रुवं स्वर्गे भविष्यति ॥ १० ॥
tasmin mahāpuṇyatame trailokyasya sanātane |
saṃgrāme nidhanaṃ prāpya dhruvaṃ svarge bhaviṣyati || 10 ||
He who meets his end in battle upon that most sacred and eternal land of the three worlds will assuredly attain the immortal realms of heaven.
तथेत्युक्त्वा महाराज कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
समन्तपञ्चकं वीरः प्रायादभिमुखः प्रभुः ॥ ११॥
tathetyuktvā mahārāja kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
samantapañcakaṃ vīraḥ prāyādabhimukhaḥ prabhuḥ || 11||
Hearing these words, O great king, the heroic son of Kunti, the mighty Yudhishthira, assenting with a firm resolve, set out towards Samantapanchaka.
ततो दुर्योधनो राजा प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् ।
पद्भ्याममर्षी द्युतिमानगच्छत् पाण्डवैः सह ॥ १२॥
tato duryodhano rājā pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām |
padbhyāmamarṣī dyutimānagacchat pāṇḍavaiḥ saha || 12||
Then, King Duryodhana, seething with wrath, his radiant form ablaze with fury, took up his massive mace and proceeded on foot, accompanied by the Pandavas.
तथाssयान्तं गदाहस्तं वर्मणा चापि दंशितम् ।
अन्तरिक्षचरा देवाः साधु साध्वित्यपूजयन् ॥ १३ ॥
वातिकाश्चारणा ये तु दृष्ट्वा ते हर्षमागताः ।
स पाण्डवैः परिवृतः कुरुराजस्तवात्मजः ॥ १४ ॥
मत्तस्येव गजेन्द्रस्य गतिमास्थाय सोऽव्रजत् ।
ततः शङ्खनिनादेन भेरीणां च महास्वनैः ॥ १५ ॥
सिंहनादैश्च शूराणां दिशः सर्वाः प्रपूरिताः ।
tathāssyāntaṃ gadāhastaṃ varmaṇā cāpi daṃśitam |
antarikṣacarā devāḥ sādhu sādhvityapūjayan || 13 ||
vātikāścāraṇā ye tu dṛṣṭvā te harṣamāgatāḥ |
sa pāṇḍavaiḥ parivṛtaḥ kururājastavātmajaḥ || 14 ||
mattasyeva gajendrasya gatimāsthāya so’vrajat |
tataḥ śaṅkhaninādena bherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanaiḥ || 15 ||
siṃhanādaiśca śūrāṇāṃ diśaḥ sarvāḥ prapūritāḥ |
As Duryodhana advanced, mace in hand and clad in shining armor, the celestial beings in the sky applauded, exclaiming 'Excellent! Excellent!' Witnessing his valiant march, the Charanas and celestial sages were filled with delight. Surrounded by the Pandavas, your son, the Kuru king, moved forward like an infuriated elephant. The battlefield then resounded with the thunderous blare of conchs, the booming of drums, and the fierce lion-roars of warriors, filling all directions with their echoes.
ततस्ते तु कुरुक्षेत्रं प्राप्ता नरवरोत्तमाः ॥ १६ ॥
प्रतीच्यभिमुखं देशं यथोद्दिष्टं सुतेन ते ।
tataste tu kurukṣetraṃ prāptā naravarottamāḥ || 16 ||
pratīcyabhimukhaṃ deśaṃ yathoddiṣṭaṃ sutena te |
Thus, those foremost of men arrived at the sacred field of Kurukshetra, proceeding towards the western direction as had been predetermined by your son.
दक्षिणेन सरस्वत्या: स्वयनं तीर्थमुत्तमम् ॥ १७ ॥
तस्मिन् देो त्वनिरिणे ते तु युद्धमरोचयन् ।
dakṣiṇena sarasvatyā: svayanaṃ tīrthamuttamam || 17 ||
tasmin deo tvaniriṇe te tu yuddhamarocayan |
On the southern bank of the Sarasvati lay the sacred Svayana Tirtha, an auspicious and blessed ground. There, in that firm and level battlefield, free of loose sand, the warriors resolved to engage in their final duel.
ततो भीमो महाकोटिं गदां गृह्याथ वर्मभृत् ॥ १८ ॥
विद्रूपं महाराज सदृशं हि गरुत्मतः ।
tato bhīmo mahākoṭiṃ gadāṃ gṛhyātha varmabhṛt || 18 ||
vidrūpaṃ mahārāja sadṛśaṃ hi garutmataḥ |
Then Bhima, donning his armor and seizing his immense and formidable mace, assumed a fearsome form, like that of the mighty Garuda, the celestial eagle.
अवबद्धशिरस्त्राणः संख्ये काञ्चनवर्मभृत् ॥ १९ ॥
रराज राजन् पुत्रस्ते काञ्चनः शैलराडिव ।
avabaddhaśirastrāṇaḥ saṃkhye kāñcanavarmabhṛt || 19 ||
rarāja rājan putraste kāñcanaḥ śailarāḍiva |
Your son, O king, stood on the battlefield, his golden armor gleaming, and his helmet securely fastened. Licking the corners of his mouth, his eyes burning red with fury, he shone like the golden mountain Sumeru.
वर्मभ्यां संयतौ वीरौ भीमदुर्योधनावुभौ ॥ २० ॥
संयुगे च प्रकाशेते संरब्धाविव कुञ्जरौ ।
varmabhyāṃ saṃyatau vīrau bhīmaduryodhanāvubhau || 20 ||
saṃyuge ca prakāśete saṃrabdhāviva kuñjarau |
Both warriors, Bhima and Duryodhana, clad in armor, stood resolute, resembling two enraged elephants in the heat of battle, eager to engage in a duel to the death.
रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ भ्रातरौ तौ नरर्षभौ ॥ २१ ॥
अशोभेतां महाराज चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ ।
raṇamaṇḍalamadhyasthau bhrātarau tau nararṣabhau || 21 ||
aśobhetāṃ mahārāja candrasūryāvivoditau |
Amidst the battlefield, O great king, those two foremost of men, the valiant brothers, stood facing each other, resplendent like the moon and the sun rising together on the horizon.
तावन्योन्यं निरीक्षेतां क्रुद्धाविव महाद्विपौ ॥ २२ ॥
दहन्तौ लोचनौ राजन् परस्परवधैषिणौ ।
tāvanyonyaṃ nirīkṣetāṃ kruddhāviva mahādvipau || 22 ||
dahantau locanau rājan parasparavadhaiṣiṇau |
Like two enraged bull elephants, O king, they glared at each other with blazing eyes, burning with the desire to slay their opponent.
सम्प्रहृष्टमना राजन् गदामादाय कौरवः ॥ २३ ॥
सृक्किणी संलिहन् राजन् क्रोधरक्तेक्षण: श्वसन् ।
ततो दुर्योधनो राजन् गदामादाय वीर्यवान् ॥ २४ ॥
भीमसेनमभिप्रेक्ष्य गजो गजमिवाह्वयत् ।
samprahṛṣṭamanā rājan gadāmādāya kauravaḥ || 23 ||
sṛkkiṇī saṃlihan rājan krodharaktekṣaṇa: śvasan |
tato duryodhano rājan gadāmādāya vīryavān || 24 ||
bhīmasenamabhiprekṣya gajo gajamivāhvayat |
Seizing his mighty mace with exhilaration, the Kuru prince, his breath heavy and his eyes crimson with wrath, licked his lips in anticipation. Then, the valiant Duryodhana, glancing at Bhimasena, challenged him like a raging elephant calling out its rival for a duel.
अद्रिसारमयीं भीमस्तथैवादाय वीर्यवान् ॥ २५॥
आह्वयामास नृपतिं सिंहं सिंहो यथा वने ।
adrisāramayīṃ bhīmastathaivādāya vīryavān || 25||
āhvayāmāsa nṛpatiṃ siṃhaṃ siṃho yathā vane |
In response, the mighty Bhima, lifting his mace—solid as the mountain itself—roared his challenge at the king, just as a lion in the wild would summon another for combat.
तावुद्यतगदापाणी दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ ॥ २६ ॥
संयुगे च प्रकाशेतां गिरी सशिखराविव ।
tāvudyatagadāpāṇī duryodhanavṛkodarau || 26 ||
saṃyuge ca prakāśetāṃ girī saśikharāviva |
With maces raised high in their hands, Duryodhana and Vrikodara stood gleaming in that battlefield, like two towering mountains crowned with lofty peaks.
तावुभौ समतिक्रुद्धावुभौ भीमपराक्रमौ ॥ २७ ॥
उभौ शिष्य गदायुद्धे रौहिणेयस्य धीमतः ।
उभौ सदृशकर्माणौ यमवासवयोरिव ॥ २८ ॥
तथा सदृशकर्माणौ वरुणस्य महाबलौ ।
वासुदेवस्य रामस्य तथा वैश्रवणस्य च ॥ २९ ॥
सदृशौ तौ महाराज मधुकैटभयोर्युधि ।
tāvubhau samatikruddhāvubhau bhīmaparākramau || 27 ||
ubhau śiṣya gadāyuddhe rauhiṇeyasya dhīmataḥ |
ubhau sadṛśakarmāṇau yamavāsavayoriva || 28 ||
tathā sadṛśakarmāṇau varuṇasya mahābalau |
vāsudevasya rāmasya tathā vaiśravaṇasya ca || 29 ||
sadṛśau tau mahārāja madhukaiṭabhayoryudhi |
Both were engulfed in fury, both possessed the prowess of Bhima, both were disciples of the mighty son of Rohini (Balarama) in the art of mace-fighting. Both were equal in skill, resembling Yama and Indra in combat. They matched the great Varuna in strength, and in battle, each mirrored the prowess of Vasudeva, Rama, and the lord of treasures, Kubera. O king, they stood like Madhu and Kaitabha of old, locked in a cosmic struggle.
भौ सदृशकर्माण तथा सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः ॥ ३० ॥
रामरावणयोश्चैव वालिसुग्रीवयोस्तथा ।
bhau sadṛśakarmāṇa tathā sundopasundayoḥ || 30 ||
rāmarāvaṇayoścaiva vālisugrīvayostathā |
Both warriors, equal in deeds and might, stood as fearsome as Sunda and Upasunda, as formidable as Rama and Ravana, and as indomitable as Vali and Sugriva in battle.
तथैव कालस्य समौ मृत्योश्चैव परंतपौ ॥ ३१ ॥
अन्योन्यमभिधावन्तौ मत्ताविव महाद्विपौ ।
वासितासंगमे दृप्तौ शरदीव मदोत्कटौ ॥ ३२ ॥
उभौ क्रोधविषं दीप्तं वमन्तावुरगाविव ।
tathaiva kālasya samau mṛtyoścaiva paraṃtapau || 31 ||
anyonyamabhidhāvantau mattāviva mahādvipau |
vāsitāsaṃgame dṛptau śaradīva madotkaṭau || 32 ||
ubhau krodhaviṣaṃ dīptaṃ vamantāvuragāviva |
Like Time and Death themselves, those two mighty warriors, destroyers of foes, rushed upon each other like two infuriated elephants in the mating season, mad with passion and seeking combat.
Like two elephants, exultant and inebriated during autumn, eager for union, they moved with unyielding pride. Like enraged serpents spewing forth the fiery venom of their wrath, they sought to vanquish each other.
अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धौ प्रेक्षमाणावरिंदमौ ॥ ३३ ॥
उभौ भरतशार्दूलविक्रमेण समन्वितौ ।
anyonyamabhisaṃrabdhau prekṣamāṇāvariṃdamau || 33 ||
ubhau bharataśārdūlavikrameṇa samanvitau |
Glaring at each other in furious rage, those two foremost of warriors, the tigers among the Bharatas, were both endowed with matchless valor and invincible strength.
सिंहाविव दुराधर्षो गदायुद्धविशारदौ ॥ ३४ ॥
नखदंष्ट्रायुधौ वीरौ व्याघ्राविव दुरुत्सह ।
प्रजासंहरणे क्षुब्धौ समुद्राविव दुस्तरौ ॥ ३५ ॥
लोहिताङ्गाविव क्रुद्धो प्रतपन्तौ महारथौ ।
पूर्वपश्चिमजौ मेघौ प्रेक्षमाणावरिंदमौ ॥ ३६ ॥
गर्जमानौ सुविषमं क्षरन्तौ प्रावृषीव हि ।
रश्मियुक्तौ महात्मानौ दीप्तिमन्तौ महाबलौ ॥३७॥
ददृशाते कुरुश्रेष्ठौ कालसूर्याविवोदितौ ।
siṃhāviva durādharṣo gadāyuddhaviśāradau || 34 ||
nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhau vīrau vyāghrāviva durutsaha |
prajāsaṃharaṇe kṣubdhau samudrāviva dustarau || 35 ||
lohitāṅgāviva kruddho pratapantau mahārathau |
pūrvapaścimajau meghau prekṣamāṇāvariṃdamau || 36 ||
garjamānau suviṣamaṃ kṣarantau prāvṛṣīva hi |
raśmiyuktau mahātmānau dīptimantau mahābalau ||37||
dadṛśāte kuruśreṣṭhau kālasūryāvivoditau |
Like two mighty lions, impossible to subdue, both experts in mace combat, they stood, fierce as tigers armed with claws and fangs. Like two raging oceans, furious and unfathomable in their might, they threatened to engulf all in their fury. Like the crimson Sun and Mars at the hour of doom, they blazed with unrelenting heat. They stood like great storm clouds in the east and west, facing each other in wrath, roaring like thunderclouds and shedding torrents of destruction like an unending monsoon.
Like the blazing Sun and the inevitable Time itself, those two great souls, radiant and immensely powerful, stood shining in the battlefield as the foremost of the Kurus.
व्याघ्राविव सुसंरब्धौ गर्जन्ताविव तोयदौ ॥ ३८ ॥
जहृषाते महाबाहू सिंहकेसरिणाविव ।
जगाविव सुसंरब्धौ ज्वलिताविव पावकौ ॥ ३९॥
ददृशाते महात्मानौ सशृङ्गाविव पर्वतौ ।
रोषात् प्रस्फुरमाणोष्ठौ निरीक्षन्तौ परस्परम् ॥ ४० ॥
तौ समेतौ महात्मानौ गदाहस्तौ नरोत्तमौ ।
vyāghrāviva susaṃrabdhau garjantāviva toyadau || 38 ||
jahṛṣāte mahābāhū siṃhakesariṇāviva |
jagāviva susaṃrabdhau jvalitāviva pāvakau || 39||
dadṛśāte mahātmānau saśṛṅgāviva parvatau |
roṣāt prasphuramāṇoṣṭhau nirīkṣantau parasparam || 40 ||
tau sametau mahātmānau gadāhastau narottamau |
Like two ferocious tigers, enraged and roaring like storm clouds, they exulted in their might, eager for the kill. Their arms, powerful and unyielding, shone like the radiant manes of two roaring lions. They blazed like two furious fires, consuming everything in their path. Like towering mountains crowned with lofty peaks, they loomed over the battlefield, an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
Their lips trembled in rage as they locked eyes upon each other. Those two great heroes, the foremost of men, stood armed with their maces, ready for their final duel.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ परमसम्मतौ ।। ४१ ।।
सदश्वाविव हेषन्तौ बृंहन्ताविव कुञ्जरौ ।
ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāvubhau paramasammatau || 41 ||
sadaśvāviva heṣantau bṛṃhantāviva kuñjarau |
Both warriors, overjoyed and greatly honored, neighed like noble steeds, eager for battle. Like two massive elephants trumpeting in challenge, they announced their intent to fight to the finish.
वृषभाविव गर्जन्तौ दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ।॥ ४२ ॥
दैत्याविव बलोन्मत्तौ रेजतुस्तौ नरोत्तमौ ।
ततो दुर्योधनो राजन्निदमाह युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ ४३ ॥
भ्रातृभिः संहितं चैव कृष्णेन च महात्मना।
रामेणामितवीर्येण वाक्यं शौटीर्यसम्पतम् ॥ ४४ ॥
vṛṣabhāviva garjantau duryodhanavṛkodarau||| 42 ||
daityāviva balonmattau rejatustau narottamau |
tato duryodhano rājannidamāha yudhiṣṭhiram || 43 ||
bhrātṛbhiḥ saṃhitaṃ caiva kṛṣṇena ca mahātmanā|
rāmeṇāmitavīryeṇa vākyaṃ śauṭīryasampatam || 44 ||
Duryodhana and Vrikodara roared like two enraged bulls, shaking the battlefield. Like two mighty Daityas, intoxicated with their own strength, those foremost of men trembled in anticipation of the impending duel.
Then, O King, Duryodhana, in the presence of his brothers, the great-souled Krishna, and the immensely powerful Rama, spoke these words, brimming with the pride of a warrior.
केकयैः सृञ्जयैर्दृप्तं पञ्चालैश्च महात्मभिः ।
इदं व्यवसितं युद्धं मम भीमस्य चोभयोः ॥ ४५ ॥
उपोपविष्टाः पश्यध्वं सहितैर्नृपपुङ्गवैः।
श्रुत्वा दुर्योधनवचः प्रत्यपद्यन्त तत्तथा ॥ ४६ ॥
ततः समुपविष्टं तत् सुमहद्रजमण्डलम् ।
विराजमानं ददृशे दिवीवादित्यमण्डलम्॥ ४७ ॥
kekayaiḥ sṛñjayairdṛptaṃ pañcālaiśca mahātmabhiḥ |
idaṃ vyavasitaṃ yuddhaṃ mama bhīmasya cobhayoḥ || 45 ||
upopaviṣṭāḥ paśyadhvaṃ sahitairnṛpapuṅgavaiḥ|
śrutvā duryodhanavacaḥ pratyapadyanta tattathā || 46 ||
tataḥ samupaviṣṭaṃ tat sumahadrajamaṇḍalam |
virājamānaṃ dadṛśe divīvādityamaṇḍalam|| 47 ||
Guarded by the mighty Kaikeyas, the Srinjayas, and the valiant Panchalas, behold this fateful duel between me and Bhima, O kings! Seated together, watch this battle unfold!'- Upon hearing these words of Duryodhana, all those assembled accepted his challenge and settled down to witness the mighty combat.
Then, as the dust settled and the warriors took their places, that vast battlefield shone with radiance, resembling the blazing orb of the sun in the sky.
तेषां मध्ये महाबाहुः श्रीमान् केशवपूर्वजः ।
उपविष्टो महाराज पूज्यमानः समन्ततः ॥ ४८ ॥
teṣāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śrīmān keśavapūrvajaḥ |
upaviṣṭo mahārāja pūjyamānaḥ samantataḥ || 48 ||
Amidst that august assembly, the mighty-armed and resplendent elder brother of Keshava, O King, took his seat, revered and honored by all around him.
शुशुभे राजमध्यस्थो नीलवासाः सितप्रभः ।
नक्षत्रैरिव सम्पूर्णो वृतो निशि निशाकरः ॥४९॥
śuśubhe rājamadhyastho nīlavāsāḥ sitaprabhaḥ |
nakṣatrairiva sampūrṇo vṛto niśi niśākaraḥ ||49||
Clad in blue robes, his fair complexion radiating brilliance, Baladeva shone among the gathered kings like the full moon surrounded by twinkling stars in the night sky.
तौ तथा तु महाराज गदाहस्तौ सुदुःसहौ ।
अन्योन्यं वाग्भिरुग्राभिस्तक्षमाणौ व्यवस्थितौ ॥ ५० ॥
tau tathā tu mahārāja gadāhastau suduḥsahau |
anyonyaṃ vāgbhirugrābhistakṣamāṇau vyavasthitau || 50 ||
O King! Those two mighty warriors, maces in hand and unbearable in battle, stood facing each other, hurling fierce and cutting words at one another.
अप्रियाणि ततोऽन्योन्यमुक्त्वा तौ कुरुसत्तमौ ।
उदीक्षन्तौ स्थितौ तत्र वृत्रशक्रौ यथाऽऽहवे ॥ ५१ ॥
apriyāṇi tato’nyonyamuktvā tau kurusattamau |
udīkṣantau sthitau tatra vṛtraśakrau yathā’’have || 51 ||
Having exchanged bitter and harsh words, those two foremost warriors of the Kuru race stood, their gazes locked upon each other like Vritra and Shakra in the midst of battle.
This is a story about the dramatic lead-up to the climactic mace duel between Bhima and Duryodhana during the Kurukshetra War, as described by Sanjaya to the blind King Dhritarashtra, who anxiously seeks details about the battle and its participants.
Dhritarashtra asks how his son Duryodhana, the last hope of the Kauravas, faced Bhima in the presence of Baladeva (Rama), their revered mace-fighting teacher. Sanjaya describes Duryodhana’s elation upon seeing Baladeva, whom Yudhishthira and the Pandavas warmly welcome. Baladeva praises the sanctity of Kurukshetra, emphasizing its celestial significance as a battlefield where fallen warriors attain heaven. Declaring his intent to witness the duel, Baladeva takes his place amidst the gathered kings and warriors, radiating divine grace.
Duryodhana, brimming with pride and fury, armed with his massive mace, challenges Bhima. The two warriors are described as forces of nature—like raging storms, fiery serpents, and towering mountains—filled with wrath and an unyielding desire for victory. The vivid imagery portrays them as equals in might, skill, and determination, evoking comparisons to mythical pairs such as Rama and Ravana or Madhu and Kaitabha.
The battlefield becomes a sacred stage for their confrontation, with celestial beings and the assembled kings looking on in awe. Duryodhana arrogantly addresses Yudhishthira, inviting him and the gathered warriors to witness the decisive battle. The two combatants exchange fierce words, their anger and resolve intensifying as they prepare for combat.
As Bhima and Duryodhana stand face-to-face, ready to clash, they are portrayed as embodiments of fury and power, each determined to destroy the other. The text sets a tone of impending doom and glory, marking this duel as the ultimate reckoning for the fate of the Kuru dynasty.