Shloka 30
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
दुर्योधनने कहा--योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ मामाजी! आप अनुपम वीर हैं। अतः मैं सेनापति- पद ग्रहण करनेके लिये आपका वरण करता हूँ। जैसे स्कन्दने युद्धस्थलमें देवताओंकी रक्षा की थी, उसी प्रकार आप हमलोगोंका पालन कीजिये ।। 3 । ञु जाया 929 > 2 । ह हा जा-++न्०्०्म्ण . फै ह अभिषिच्यस्व राजेन्द्र देवानामिव पावकि: | जहि शत्रून् रणे वीर महेन्द्रो दानवानिव,राजाधिराज! वीर! जैसे स्कन्दने देवताओंका सेनापतित्व स्वीकार किया था, उसी प्रकार आप भी हमारे सेनापतिके पदपर अपना अभिषेक कराइये तथा दानवोंका वध करनेवाले देवराज इन्द्रके समान रणभूमिमें हमारे शत्रुओंका संहार कीजिये
duryodhana uvāca— abhiṣiñcasva rājendra devānām iva pāvakiḥ | jahi śatrūn raṇe vīra mahendro dānavān iva ||
Duryodhana said: “O king among kings, be consecrated (installed) as our commander, like Skanda—Agni’s son—who was appointed for the gods. O hero, strike down our enemies in battle, as great Indra once slew the Dānavas. Protect and uphold our host in this crisis, taking upon yourself the burden of leadership for the Kauravas.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of assuming responsibility in crisis: legitimate command is marked by formal installation, and leadership is framed as protective duty toward one’s side. It also shows how epic rhetoric invokes divine precedents (Skanda for the gods, Indra against Dānavas) to authorize and intensify a call to decisive action in war.
After severe losses, Duryodhana urges his maternal uncle Śalya to accept consecration as the Kaurava commander-in-chief. He exhorts Śalya to protect their forces and to destroy the enemy in battle, comparing him to Skanda taking command for the gods and to Indra defeating the Dānavas.