Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 21

Bhīma–Duryodhana Gadāyuddha Saṃkalpa

Resolve for the Mace Duel

Devanagari script

मद्रराजस्य शल्यस्य भूरिश्रवस एव च | पुत्राणां भरतश्रेष्ठ शकुने: सौबलस्य च

Transliteration

madrarājasya śalyasya bhūriśravas eva ca | putrāṇāṃ bharataśreṣṭha śakuneḥ saubalasya ca

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O best of the Bharatas, (I shall speak) of the sons of Shalya, the king of Madra, and also of Bhurishravas, and of the sons of Shakuni, the son of Subala.”

Word by Word

• मद्रराजस्य: of the king of Madra
• मद्रराजस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शल्यस्य: of Shalya
• शल्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• भूरिश्रवसः: of Bhurishravas
• भूरिश्रवसः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूरिश्रवस्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एव: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुत्राणाम्: of the sons
• पुत्राणाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शकुनेः: of Shakuni
• शकुनेः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सौबलस्य: the son of Subala (patronymic), i.e., Shakuni's
• सौबलस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौबल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shalya
• Madra
• Bhurishravas
• Shakuni
• Subala
• Bharata (dynastic reference)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a narrative transition emphasizing accountability through lineage: warriors and their houses are named explicitly, underscoring that choices in war are borne not only by individuals but also by the reputations and consequences carried by families and allied clans.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya addresses Dhritarashtra (“best of the Bharatas”) and introduces a listing/account of the sons (forces or fallen) connected with key Kaurava-side figures—Shalya of Madra, Bhurishravas, and Shakuni (son of Subala)—as part of the ongoing war report in Shalya Parva.