Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 28
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तत्पश्चात् अधिक क्रोधमें भरे हुए भीमसेनने दूसरे बाणसे शल्यके सारथिका मस्तक उसके धड़से अलग कर दिया और उनके चारों घोड़ोंको भी शीघ्र ही मार डाला ।।
tatpaścād adhika-krodhena bhṛto bhīmasenas tu dvitīyena bāṇena śalyasya sārathikaṃ mastakaṃ tasya dhaḍāt pṛthak cakāra, tasya catvāro 'śvān api śīghram eva jaghāna. tam agryaṃ sarva-dhanurdharāṇām ekaṃ carantaṃ samare 'tivegam; bhīmaḥ śatena vyakirac charāṇāṃ mādrī-putraḥ sahadevas tathāiva.
Thereafter Bhīmasena, his wrath fiercely kindled, with a second arrow severed the head of Śalya’s charioteer from his body, and swiftly slew the four horses as well. Then Bhīma, foremost among archers, and Sahadeva, son of Mādrī, rained hundreds of shafts upon Śalya as he sped alone across the battlefield with tremendous swiftness.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, anger and prowess can drive decisive action, yet the ethical tension remains: kṣatriya-duty demands effectiveness in battle, while the narrative also exposes the tragic cost—life is cut down swiftly, and violence escalates once combatants commit fully.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma, enraged, beheads Śalya’s charioteer with an arrow and kills the four horses, effectively crippling Śalya’s chariot. Then Bhīma and Sahadeva together rain hundreds of arrows on Śalya as he moves alone with great speed on the battlefield.
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