Shloka 32

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

शल्यस्तु समरश्लाघी धर्मराजमरिंदमम्‌

Transliteration

śalyas tu samaraślāghī dharmarājam ariṃdamam

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Śalya, stolz auf seine Kampfkraft, wandte sich an Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, den Zermalmer der Feinde.

Word by Word

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• समरश्लाघी: boastful of battle; glorying in war
• समरश्लाघी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समरश्लाघिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मराजम्: Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira)
• धर्मराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदमम्: crusher of foes
• अरिंदमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śalya
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse juxtaposes two ideals: martial pride (samaraślāghī) and righteous kingship (Dharmarāja). It hints at the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension—how personal ego and the culture of boasting in war can challenge the steadiness of dharma, even when addressing a ruler famed for righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Śalya—characterized as one who prides himself on battle—speaks to Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja), described as a crusher of enemies. The line functions as a narrative setup, introducing the tone and stature of the speaker and the addressed king before the ensuing exchange.