Shloka 73
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
संजय उवाच एवमुकक््त्वा महाराज तव पुत्र: प्रतापवान् | अभिगम्याब्रवीद् राजा मद्रराजमिदं वच:,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! ऐसा कहकर आपके प्रतापी पुत्र राजा दुर्योधनने मद्रराज शल्यके पास जाकर इस प्रकार कहा--
sañjaya uvāca evam uktvā mahārāja tava putraḥ pratāpavān | abhigamya abravīd rājā madrarājam idaṃ vacaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O großer König, nachdem dein tapferer Sohn—der König Duryodhana—so gesprochen hatte, trat er zu Śalya, dem Herrscher von Madra, und redete ihn mit diesen Worten an.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahabharata theme: pivotal outcomes in war often hinge not only on strength but on counsel, alliances, and the ethics of persuasion. A king’s approach to another ruler for support or guidance carries moral weight, because speech and intent can shape dharma or adharma in political action.
Sanjaya continues his report to Dhritarashtra: after speaking earlier words, Duryodhana goes to Shalya, the king of Madra, and begins addressing him—setting up the next speech and the ensuing strategic interaction between them.