Shloka 38
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
स रथे5तिरथस्तिष्ठन् रथशक्ति परामृशत्
sa rathe 'tirathas tiṣṭhan rathaśaktiṃ parāmṛśat
Sañjaya sprach: Fest auf seinem Wagen stehend wie ein erstrangiger Krieger, ergriff er den Wagen-Speer und rüstete sich zum nächsten entscheidenden Stoß inmitten der unablässigen Pflichten der Schlacht.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of preparedness and resolve: in the chaos of war, a warrior must remain steady, choose the appropriate weapon, and act decisively—discipline and readiness being central to martial dharma.
Sanjaya narrates that a leading warrior, standing on his chariot, takes up a rathaśakti (a chariot-spear/javelin), signaling an imminent attack or a critical turn in the ongoing combat.