Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 5
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
कुण्जरान् कुण्जरारोहानश्चानश्वप्रयायिन: । रथांश्ष रथिन: सार्थ जघान रथिनां वर:,रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ शल्यने हाथियों और हाथीसवारोंको, घोड़ों और घुड़सवारोंको तथा रथों और रथियोंको एक साथ ही नष्ट कर दिया
kuñjarān kuñjarārohān aśvān aśvaprayāyinaḥ | rathāṁś ca rathinaḥ sārthaṁ jaghāna rathināṁ varaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The foremost of chariot-warriors, Śalya, struck down in one sweep elephants and their riders, horses and their mounted fighters, and chariots along with their charioteers—cutting through the battle-array with overwhelming force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: a warrior’s excellence is measured by decisive action against the enemy’s fighting arms (elephants, cavalry, chariots). It implicitly raises the ethical tension of battlefield duty—skill and obligation expressed through lethal force.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, famed as a great chariot-warrior, devastates multiple divisions at once—elephants with their riders, cavalry, and chariot units—showing his momentum and dominance in the ongoing battle.
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