Shloka 25
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
मद्राधिपश्चापि युधिष्ठिरस्य शरैश्नतुर्भि्निजघान वाहान् | वाहांश्व हत्वा व्यकरोन्महात्मा योधक्षयं धर्मसुतस्य राज्ञ:,तत्पश्चात् मद्रराजने चार बाणोंसे युधिष्ठिरके चारों घोड़ोंका भी संहार कर डाला। घोड़ोंको मारकर महामनस्वी शल्यने धर्मपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरके योद्धाओंका विनाश आरम्भ कर दिया
madrādhipaś cāpi yudhiṣṭhirasya śaraiś caturbhir nijaghāna vāhān | vāhāṃś ca hatvā vyakarot mahātmā yodha-kṣayaṃ dharmasutasya rājñaḥ ||
قال سنجيا: إن سيد مَدْرَة أيضًا أردى خيل يودهيشثيرا الأربعة بأربعة سهام. وبعد أن قتل الخيل، شرع شاليا العظيم النفس في إفناء محاربي الملك يودهيشثيرا، ابن الدَّرْمَا—وهو فعل يزيد وطأة الضغط الأخلاقي للحرب باستهداف حركة الملك وحمايته، لا جسده وحده.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare often escalates by attacking a leader’s supports (like chariot-horses) rather than only the leader, raising ethical tension: tactical necessity in battle can conflict with ideals of restraint and dharma, especially when it endangers many by disabling a king’s protection and mobility.
Śalya, king of Madra, shoots four arrows and kills Yudhiṣṭhira’s four chariot-horses. After disabling the chariot, he proceeds to begin slaughtering Yudhiṣṭhira’s warriors, intensifying the combat around the Pandava king.