Shloka 30
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
संजय उवाच दुर्योधनवच: श्रुत्वा शल्य: क्रोधसमन्वित: । विशिखां भ्रुकुटिं कृत्वा धुन्वन् हस्तौ पुन: पुन:
sañjaya uvāca duryodhana-vacaḥ śrutvā śalyaḥ krodha-samanvitaḥ | viśikhāṃ bhru-kuṭiṃ kṛtvā dhunvan hastau punaḥ punaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: O König, als Śalya Duryodhanas Worte vernahm, wurde er von Zorn ergriffen. Er zog die Brauen zu einem scharfen, gleichsam dreifachen Stirnrunzeln zusammen und schüttelte immer wieder die Hände—ein äußeres Zeichen aufwallender Wut und einer harten Erwiderung, die im moralischen Druck des Krieges bevorstand.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how provocative speech can inflame anger and intensify conflict. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, mastery over krodha (wrath) and restraint in speech are crucial, especially in war where a single outburst can worsen adharma and suffering.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śalya, after hearing Duryodhana’s words, becomes visibly enraged—knitting his brows and repeatedly shaking his hands—signaling that he is about to respond sharply or take a decisive stance in the tense wartime exchange.