Shloka 1
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
अपना बछ। है २ २4 घोडशो< ध्याय: पाण्डव-सैनिकों और कौरव-सैनिकोंका दन्डयुद्ध, भीमसेनद्वारा दुर्योधनकी तथा युधिष्ठिरद्वारा शल्यकी पराजय संजय उवाच ततः सैन्यास्तव विभो मद्रराजपुरस्कृता: । पुनरभ्यद्रवन् पार्थान् वेगेन महता रणे,संजय कहते हैं--प्रभो! तदनन्तर आपके सभी सैनिक रणभूमिमें मद्रराजको आगे करके पुनः बड़े वेगसे पाण्डवोंपर टूट पड़े
sañjaya uvāca
tataḥ sainyās tava vibho madrarāja-puraskṛtāḥ |
punar abhyadravan pārthān vegena mahatā raṇe ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O Herr, danach stürmten deine Heere—den König von Madra an die Spitze gestellt—auf dem Schlachtfeld erneut mit großer Geschwindigkeit gegen die Söhne der Pṛthā an.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective action in war depends on leadership and momentum: troops rally when a prominent commander is placed at the front. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya duty (fighting as commanded) and the tragic consequences of pursuing victory through relentless aggression.
After a prior phase of fighting, the Kaurava forces regroup and charge again. They put Śalya, the king of Madra, at the head of their formation and rush with great speed against the Pāṇḍavas on the battlefield, as reported by Sañjaya to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.