Shloka 28
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
प्रलयकालमें प्रकट हुए यमराजके समान मद्रराज शल्य क्रोधसे आविष्ट हुए पुरुषकी भाँति अपने पुरुषार्थसे युद्धस्थलमें शत्रुओंको बाणोंद्वारा आच्छादित करने लगे ।।
vinardamāno madreśo meghahrādo mahābalaḥ | sā vadhyamānā śalyena pāṇḍavānām anīkinī ||
Sañjaya sprach: Laut aufbrüllend begann der mächtige Herr von Madra—Śalya—wie eine Donnerwolke, wie Yama, der zur Zeit der Weltenauflösung erscheint, das Heer der Pāṇḍavas niederzuschlagen. Während er im Getümmel Pfeile um Pfeile regnen ließ, wurde das pândavische Heer von ihm zerschnitten und gehetzt; in der moralischen Finsternis des Krieges wirkte seine Gewalt wie der Tod selbst.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war magnifies human passions—especially wrath and pride—so that a warrior’s prowess can resemble a force of destruction. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty in battle while also hinting at the ethical shadow of violence: even valor, when driven by rage, becomes deathlike for those it strikes.
Sañjaya describes Śalya, the Madra king, roaring like thunder and unleashing a fierce assault. With his arrows he batters the Pāṇḍava host, and the Pāṇḍava army is depicted as being actively cut down under his attack.