Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 43
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
नकुलं विरथं दृष्टवा द्रौपदेयो महारथम्
nakulaṁ virathaṁ dṛṣṭvā draupadeyo mahāratham
Sañjaya said: Seeing Nakula deprived of his chariot, the mighty chariot-warrior—the son of Draupadī—(advanced to confront him). The line underscores the battlefield ethic that a warrior’s vulnerability, such as being left without a chariot, becomes a decisive moment that draws the attention of powerful opponents and allies alike.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key battlefield value in epic warfare: the condition of being 'viratha' (without a chariot) marks a critical vulnerability. It frames how warriors respond to shifts in advantage and disadvantage, raising ethical questions about protection, fairness, and the duty of powerful fighters in moments of another’s exposure.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula is seen to be without his chariot. In response, a Draupadeya—described as a mahāratha—takes notice and moves into the action, setting up the next beat of combat involving Nakula and the son of Draupadī.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.