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 ||
তাৰ পিছত মদ্ৰাধিপ শল্যে চাৰি বাণে যুধিষ্ঠিৰৰ চাৰি ঘোঁৰাক নিপাত কৰিলে। ঘোঁৰা বধ কৰি সেই মহাত্মাই ধৰ্মসুত ৰজা যুধিষ্ঠিৰৰ যোদ্ধাসকলৰ বিনাশ আৰম্ভ কৰিলে।
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.