Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 603

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

यन्तारं मद्रराजस्य निर्बिभेद ततो हृदि । इससे भीमसेनको तनिक भी घबराहट नहीं हुई। उन्होंने उसी तोमरको निकालकर उसके द्वारा मद्रराज शल्यके सारथिकी छाती छेद डाली

Transliteration

yantāraṁ madrarājasya nirbibheda tato hṛdi |

Translation

তারপর ভীমসেন মদ্ররাজ শল্যের সারথিকে বুকে—হৃদয়ে—বিদ্ধ করলেন। সেই আঘাতেও তিনি বিচলিত হলেন না; সেই একই তোমর টেনে বের করে তিনি শল্যের সারথির বক্ষ বিদীর্ণ করলেন।

Word by Word

• यन्तारम्: charioteer
• यन्तारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• निर्बिभेद: pierced
• निर्बिभेद: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• हृदि: in the heart/chest
• हृदि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Śalya (Madrarāja, king of Madra)
• Śalya’s charioteer (yantā)
• tomara (spear/javelin) (implied by the narrative gloss)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the brutal momentum of war: once the aim becomes victory at any cost, even non-combatant roles like the charioteer are drawn into lethal danger. It invites reflection on how dharma becomes strained in battle, where tactical necessity and moral restraint collide.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the clash involving Śalya, Bhīma—undeterred—pierces Śalya’s charioteer in the heart, effectively crippling Śalya’s chariot operation and demonstrating a tactic of disabling the enemy’s mobility and support.