The Encounter Between Bhima and Duryodhana and Baladeva's Presence There (ch55)

CHAPTER 55
(GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued.

The encounter between Bhima and Duryodhana and Baladeva's presence there

SYNOPSIS

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, who is warmly welcomed by Yudhishthira and the Pandavas. 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 equal in might, skill, and determination, evoking comparisons to mythical pairs such as Rama and Ravana, or Madhu and Kaitabha.

The battlefield itself 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.

CHAPTER 55

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, did that terrible battle take place. King Dhritarashtra, in great sorrow, said thus about it.

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

Seeing Rama present at the scene of the mace battle, how did my son fight against Bhima, O Sanjaya?

संजय उवाच
रामसांनिध्यमासाद्य पुत्रो दुर्योधनस्तव ।
युद्धकामो महाबाहुः समहृष्यत वीर्यवान् ॥ ३ ॥

saṃjaya uvāca
rāmasāṃnidhyamāsādya putro duryodhanastava |
yuddhakāmo mahābāhuḥ samahṛṣyata vīryavān || 3 ||

Sanjaya said

Beholding the presence of Rama, your valiant son Duryodhana of mighty arms, desirous of battle, was gladdened.

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 Vala, King Yudhishthira, O Bharata, stood up and duly and gladly honored him. He gave him a seat and enquired about his welfare.

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 ||

Rama then answered Yudhisthira, in these sweet and righteous words, viz.-I have heard it said by the Rishis, O best of kings, that Kurukshetra is a highly sacred and sin- destroying spot, equal to heaven itself, worshipped of gods and Rishis and great Brahmanas.

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 ||

Those men that renounce their bodies, while engaged in battle on this field, are sure to live in heaven with Shakra himself.

तस्मात् समन्तपञ्चकमितो याम द्रुतं नृप ।
प्रथितोत्तरवेदी सा देवलोके प्रजापतेः ॥ ९ ॥

tasmāt samantapañcakamito yāma drutaṃ nṛpa |
prathitottaravedī sā devaloke prajāpateḥ || 9 ||

I shall for this, O king, speedily proceed to Samantapancka. In the celestial region that spot is known as the northern (sacrificial) 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 that breathes his last in battle on that eternal and most sacred of spots in the three worlds, will surely obtain heaven.

तथेत्युक्त्वा महाराज कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।

समन्तपञ्चकं वीरः प्रायादभिमुखः प्रभुः ॥ ११॥

tathetyuktvā mahārāja kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
samantapañcakaṃ vīraḥ prāyādabhimukhaḥ prabhuḥ || 11||

Saying-So be it O'king, Kunti's brave son, lord Yudhishthira, proceeded towards Samantapanchaka.

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् ।
पद्भ्याममर्षी द्युतिमानगच्छत् पाण्डवैः सह ॥ १२॥

tato duryodhano rājā pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām |
padbhyāmamarṣī dyutimānagacchat pāṇḍavaiḥ saha || 12||

King Duryodhana also, taking up his gigantic mace, angrily went on foot with 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 |

While going thus, armed with mace and clad in armor, the celestial in the sky applauded him, saying-Excellent, excellent! Seeing the Kuru king, the Charanas became filled with delight. Surrounding by the Pandavas, your son, the Kuru king proceeded, like an infuriate elephant. All the points of the compass were filled with the blare of conchs, the sounds of drums, and the leonine roars of heroes.

ततस्ते तु कुरुक्षेत्रं प्राप्ता नरवरोत्तमाः ॥ १६ ॥
प्रतीच्यभिमुखं देशं यथोद्दिष्टं सुतेन ते ।

tataste tu kurukṣetraṃ prāptā naravarottamāḥ || 16 ||
pratīcyabhimukhaṃ deśaṃ yathoddiṣṭaṃ sutena te |

Proceeding with face westwards to the appointed spot, with your son (in their midst), they spread themselves on all sides when they reached it.

दक्षिणेन सरस्वत्या: स्वयनं तीर्थमुत्तमम् ॥ १७ ॥
तस्मिन् देो त्वनिरिणे ते तु युद्धमरोचयन् ।

dakṣiṇena sarasvatyā: svayanaṃ tīrthamuttamam || 17 ||
tasmin deo tvaniriṇe te tu yuddhamarocayan |

That was an excellent Tirtha on the southern side of the Sarasvati. The ground there was not sandy, and was, therefore, selected for the battle.

ततो भीमो महाकोटिं गदां गृह्याथ वर्मभृत् ॥ १८ ॥
विद्रूपं महाराज सदृशं हि गरुत्मतः ।

tato bhīmo mahākoṭiṃ gadāṃ gṛhyātha varmabhṛt || 18 ||
vidrūpaṃ mahārāja sadṛśaṃ hi garutmataḥ |

Clad in armor, and armed with his gigantic thick mace Bhima, O king, assumed the form of mighty Garuda.

अवबद्धशिरस्त्राणः संख्ये काञ्चनवर्मभृत् ॥ १९ ॥
रराज राजन् पुत्रस्ते काञ्चनः शैलराडिव ।

avabaddhaśirastrāṇaḥ saṃkhye kāñcanavarmabhṛt || 19 ||
rarāja rājan putraste kāñcanaḥ śailarāḍiva |

With head-gear on his head, and wearing a golden armor licking the corners of his mouth, O king, with eyes reddened in wrath, and breathing hard, your son on that field, O king, shone like the golden Sumeru.

वर्मभ्यां संयतौ वीरौ भीमदुर्योधनावुभौ ॥ २० ॥
संयुगे च प्रकाशेते संरब्धाविव कुञ्जरौ ।

varmabhyāṃ saṃyatau vīrau bhīmaduryodhanāvubhau || 20 ||
saṃyuge ca prakāśete saṃrabdhāviva kuñjarau |

Those two heroes Bhima and Duryodhana, wearing armor appeared like two elephants with anger, on the battlefield.

रणमण्डलमध्यस्थौ भ्रातरौ तौ नरर्षभौ ॥ २१ ॥
अशोभेतां महाराज चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ ।

raṇamaṇḍalamadhyasthau bhrātarau tau nararṣabhau || 21 ||
aśobhetāṃ mahārāja candrasūryāvivoditau |

O king! Amid the war field both the brothers, foremost among the men looked like a rising moon and the sun.

 
तावन्योन्यं निरीक्षेतां क्रुद्धाविव महाद्विपौ ॥ २२ ॥
दहन्तौ लोचनौ राजन् परस्परवधैषिणौ ।

tāvanyonyaṃ nirīkṣetāṃ kruddhāviva mahādvipau || 22 ||
dahantau locanau rājan parasparavadhaiṣiṇau |

O king! Both angrily with burning eyes wishing to kill each other, they looked like two infuriated elephants.

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 |

Taking up his mace, with a cheerful mind, the highly energetic king Duryodhana, the son of Kuru, breathing repeatedly and looking at Bhimasena, challenged him to encounter an elephant challenging a rival elephant.

 
अद्रिसारमयीं भीमस्तथैवादाय वीर्यवान् ॥ २५॥
आह्वयामास नृपतिं सिंहं सिंहो यथा वने ।

adrisāramayīṃ bhīmastathaivādāya vīryavān || 25||
āhvayāmāsa nṛpatiṃ siṃhaṃ siṃho yathā vane |

Likewise, the brave Bhima, taking up his adamantine mace, challenged the king like a lion challenging a lion.

तावुद्यतगदापाणी दुर्योधनवृकोदरौ ॥ २६ ॥
संयुगे च प्रकाशेतां गिरी सशिखराविव ।

tāvudyatagadāpāṇī duryodhanavṛkodarau || 26 ||
saṃyuge ca prakāśetāṃ girī saśikharāviva |

Duryodhana and Bhima, with uplifted maces, shone in that battle like two mountains with tall summits.

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 of them were highly worked up with anger; both were possessed of awful prowess; in mace encounters, both were disciples of Rohini's intelligent son; both resembled each other in their feat and looked like Maya and Vasava. Endued with great strength, both resembled Varuna in achievements. Each resembling Vasudeva, or Rama, or Vishravana's son (Ravana), they appeared O king, like Madhu and Kaitabha.

भौ सदृशकर्माण तथा सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः ॥ ३० ॥
रामरावणयोश्चैव वालिसुग्रीवयोस्तथा ।

bhau sadṛśakarmāṇa tathā sundopasundayoḥ || 30 ||
rāmarāvaṇayoścaiva vālisugrīvayostathā |

They looked like Sunda and Upasunda or Rama and Ravana or Bali and Sugriva.

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 |

Those two foes appeared like Kala and Mrityu. They then ran towards each other like two infuriated elephants; elated with pride and maddened with passion in autumn and longing for the companionship of a she-clephant in her season. Each appeared to vomit upon the other the poison of his wrath like two fiery serpents.

अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धौ प्रेक्षमाणावरिंदमौ ॥ ३३ ॥
उभौ भरतशार्दूलविक्रमेण समन्वितौ ।

anyonyamabhisaṃrabdhau prekṣamāṇāvariṃdamau || 33 ||
ubhau bharataśārdūlavikrameṇa samanvitau |

Those two chastisers of foes looked angrily at each other. Both were foremost of Bharata's race, endued with great prowess.

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 |

In mace encounters those two scorchers of foes were invincible like lions. Those heroes were unbearable like two tigers having teeth and claws. They were like two uncrossable and furious oceans, or like two angry Suns risen to consume everything. Those two powerful car warriors looked like an Eastern and a Western cloud agitated by the wind, roaring awfully and pouring torrents of rain in the rainy season. Those two great and powerful heroes, both possessed of great effulgence, looked like two Suns risen at the hour of the Universal dissolution.

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 |

Looking like two enraged tigers or like two roaring masses of clouds, they became glad like two manned lions. Like two angry or two blazing fires, those two great ones appeared like two mountains with tall summits. With lips swelling with rage and looking upon each other those two heroes, armed with maces, met each other. Both were elated with joy and each regarded the other as a worthy opponent.

उभौ परमसंहृष्टावुभौ परमसम्मतौ ।। ४१ ।।
सदश्वाविव हेषन्तौ बृंहन्ताविव कुञ्जरौ ।

ubhau paramasaṃhṛṣṭāvubhau paramasammatau || 41 ||
sadaśvāviva heṣantau bṛṃhantāviva kuñjarau |

Duryodhana and Vrikodara then resembled two good horses neighing at each other, or two elephants grunting at each other.

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 ||

Those two foremost men then shone like a couple of Daityas swelling with pride. The Duryodhana, O king, said these haughty words unto Yudhishthira among his brothers and of the great Krishna and Rama.

 
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 ||

Protected by the Kaikeyas and the Srinjayas and the great Panchalas, behold you with all these leading kings, seated together, this encounter that is about to take place between me and Bhima!-Hearing these words of Duryodhana, they did as requested. Then those kings sat down and shone like celestials in heaven.

तेषां मध्ये महाबाहुः श्रीमान् केशवपूर्वजः ।
उपविष्टो महाराज पूज्यमानः समन्ततः ॥ ४८ ॥

teṣāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śrīmān keśavapūrvajaḥ |
upaviṣṭo mahārāja pūjyamānaḥ samantataḥ || 48 ||

In that assemblage the mighty-armed and beautiful elder brother of Keshava, O king, as he sat down, was adored by all around him.

शुशुभे राजमध्यस्थो नीलवासाः सितप्रभः ।
नक्षत्रैरिव सम्पूर्णो वृतो निशि निशाकरः ॥४९॥

śuśubhe rājamadhyastho nīlavāsāḥ sitaprabhaḥ |
nakṣatrairiva sampūrṇo vṛto niśi niśākaraḥ ||49||

Among those kings, Baladeva clad in blue raiment and possessed of a fair complexion shone like the full moon surrounded in the night by thousands of stars.

 
तौ तथा तु महाराज गदाहस्तौ सुदुःसहौ ।
अन्योन्यं वाग्भिरुग्राभिस्तक्षमाणौ व्यवस्थितौ ॥ ५० ॥

tau tathā tu mahārāja gadāhastau suduḥsahau |
anyonyaṃ vāgbhirugrābhistakṣamāṇau vyavasthitau || 50 ||

Meanwhile those two heroes, O king, both armed with maces, and both unbearable by foes, stood there, exasperating each other with fierce speeches.

अप्रियाणि ततोऽन्योन्यमुक्त्वा तौ कुरुसत्तमौ ।
उदीक्षन्तौ स्थितौ तत्र वृत्रशक्रौ यथाऽऽहवे ॥ ५१ ॥

apriyāṇi tato’nyonyamuktvā tau kurusattamau |
udīkṣantau sthitau tatra vṛtraśakrau yathā’’have || 51 ||

Having addressed each other with unpleasant words, those two heroes of Kuru's race stood, looking angrily upon each other, like Shakra and Vritra in a fight."