तत्र राजा महान् आसीद् भगदत्तो विशां पते ॥
तेनासीत् सुमहद् युद्धं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः ॥
स किरातैश् च चीनैश् च वृतः प्राग्ज्योतिषो ऽभवत् ॥
अन्यैश् च बहुभिर् योधैः सागरानूपवासिभिः ॥
ततः स दिवसान् अष्टौ योधयित्वा धनंजयम् ॥
प्रहसन्न् अब्रवीद् राजा संग्रामे विगतक्लमः ॥
tatra rājā mahān āsīd bhagadatto viśāṃ pate ||
tenāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ ||
sa kirātaiś ca cīnaiś ca vṛtaḥ prāgjyotiṣo 'bhavat ||
anyaiś ca bahubhir yodhaiḥ sāgarānūpavāsibhiḥ ||
tataḥ sa divasān aṣṭau yodhayitvā dhanaṃjayam ||
prahasann abravīd rājā saṃgrāme vigataklamaḥ ||
There was a great king, Bhagadatta, O lord of the people; and there was a very great battle between him and the great-souled Pandava. Surrounded by Kiratas, Chinas, and many other warriors dwelling by the seaside lands, was he, the king of Pragjyotisha. And, having fought with Dhananjaya for eight days, the king, unwearied in battle, said with a laugh:
3fc2896e86ee · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:28:50 PM UTC
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Bhagadatta is a worthy opponent: eight days of tireless combat, and at its close not bitterness but laughter. It is notable that the meeting of equals in valor breeds not enmity but mutual recognition: the strong respects the strong. Here the kshatriya's courage shows itself in its purity — without malice, without fear, with an open heart. The verse teaches that nobility is known in an adversary too: one who fights honorably and accepts the outcome without bitterness stands above one who wars out of hatred.