Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 186
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
मद्राणामधिपं शूरं शरैर्विव्याध पञ्चभि: । जब धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर शल्यके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हो गये, तब क्रोधमें भरे हुए सात्यकिने शूरवीर मद्रराजपर पाँच बाणोंका प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca | madrāṇām adhipaṃ śūraṃ śarair vivyādha pañcabhiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Then Sātyaki, inflamed with wrath when Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, had been tormented by Śalya’s arrows, struck the heroic lord of the Madrakas with five shafts. The episode underscores how, amid the chaos of war, loyalty to one’s ally and the impulse to protect the righteous can surge into anger, driving swift retaliatory action.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when fighting for a just cause, anger can quickly arise; the verse highlights the tension between righteous protection of allies and the moral danger of wrath-driven retaliation in war.
After Śalya’s arrows afflict Yudhiṣṭhira, Sātyaki, enraged, counters by piercing Śalya—the heroic king of Madra—with five arrows, as Sañjaya reports.
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