सहाक्रूरप्रभृतिभिर् गदसाम्बोल्मुकादिभिः ॥
रौक्मिणेयाहुकसुतैश् चारुदेष्णपुरोगमैः ॥
वृष्णिमुख्यैर् अभिगतैर् व्याघ्रैर् इव बलोत्कटैः ॥
अभिगुप्तो महाबाहुर् मरुद्भिर् इव वासवः ॥
नीलकौशेयवसनः कैलासशिखरोपमः ॥
सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान् मदरक्तान्तलोचनः ॥
तं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजश् च केशवश् च महाद्युतिः ॥
उदतिष्ठत् तदा पार्थो भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥
गाण्डीवधन्वा ये चान्ये राजानस् तत्र के चन ॥
पूजयां चक्रुर् अभ्येत्य ते स्म सर्वे हलायुधम् ॥
sahākrūraprabhṛtibhir gadasāmbolmukādibhiḥ ||
raukmiṇeyāhukasutaiś cārudeṣṇapurogamaiḥ ||
vṛṣṇimukhyair abhigatair vyāghrair iva balotkaṭaiḥ ||
abhigupto mahābāhur marudbhir iva vāsavaḥ ||
nīlakauśeyavasanaḥ kailāsaśikharopamaḥ ||
siṃhakhelagatiḥ śrīmān madaraktāntalocanaḥ ||
taṃ dṛṣṭvā dharmarājaś ca keśavaś ca mahādyutiḥ ||
udatiṣṭhat tadā pārtho bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ||
gāṇḍīvadhanvā ye cānye rājānas tatra ke cana ||
pūjayāṃ cakrur abhyetya te sma sarve halāyudham ||
He came together with Akrura and others -- with Gada, Samba, Ulmuka, the son of Rukmini, the sons of Ahuka, and those led by Charudeshna. The mighty-armed one was surrounded by the chiefs of the Vrishnis who had come to him, mighty as tigers, and was guarded as Vasava is by the Maruts. He was clad in blue silk, resembling the peak of Kailasa, glorious, walking with the gait of a playful lion, the corners of his eyes reddened from intoxication. Seeing him, the king of dharma, the resplendent Keshava, Partha, the fearsome-in-deeds Vrikodara, the wielder of Gandiva, and all the other kings who were there rose up, approached, and paid homage to Halayudha.
00021560f4d0 · published Jul 17, 2026, 6:17:52 AM UTC
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The chapter contrasts two forms of faithfulness: the Pandavas organize their army under Krishna's guidance, while Balarama, equally bound to both Bhima and Duryodhana, chooses not to take part in the fratricidal war. His departure does not diminish the rightness of the Pandavas' cause, but it underscores the gravity of the moment: even one who accepts Keshava's will is not always able to watch the destruction of his own kin.