Shloka 43
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 103 — Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Gāndhārī Vivāha: Proposal, Consent, and the Vow
पूर्वमभ्यर्दितं दृष्टवा भीष्मं शाल्वेन ते नृपा: । विस्मिता: समपद्यन्त साधु साध्विति चाब्रुवन्,शाल्वने पहले ही भीष्मको पीड़ित कर दिया। यह देखकर सभी राजा आश्चर्यचकित हो गये और “वाह-वाह' करने लगे
pūrvam abhyarditaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaṃ śālvēna te nṛpāḥ | vismitāḥ samapadyanta sādhu sādhv iti cābruvan |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als jene Könige sahen, dass Bhīṣma bereits von Śālva hart bedrängt worden war, gerieten sie in staunendes Erschrecken; sie drängten sich erregt zusammen und riefen: „Wohlgetan! Wohlgetan!“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension in epic warfare: onlookers may applaud martial success (“sādhu sādhu”) purely for its display of power, even when it involves harming a revered elder like Bhīṣma—inviting reflection on how admiration for prowess can eclipse compassion and discernment.
Śālva has already managed to trouble/press Bhīṣma in combat. Observing this, the assembled kings are astonished and respond by acclaiming Śālva’s feat with cries of “Well done! Well done!”