Mahabharata 9.11.10 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 11, Shloka 10
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें संकुलयुद्धाविषयक दसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā sīdatīṃ senāṃ padake gām iva durbalām | ujjihīrṣus tadā śalyaḥ prāyāt pāṇḍusutān prati ||
কাদায় আটকে পড়া দুর্বল গাভীর মতো কৌরবসেনাকে দুঃখে ডুবে যেতে দেখে, তাকে উদ্ধার করতে ইচ্ছুক হয়ে রাজা শল্য তখন পাণ্ডুপুত্রদের দিকে অগ্রসর হলেন।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya-style ethic of leadership in crisis: when one’s forces falter, a commander is expected to act decisively to protect and recover them. It also shows how motives in war are often framed as ‘rescue’ or ‘duty’ rather than mere hostility.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya sees the Kaurava army weakening and sinking into trouble, compared to a frail cow stuck in mud. Wanting to pull his side out of that predicament, Śalya advances to attack the Pāṇḍavas.
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