Shloka 1
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
अफड--णरू- षड्विशो<5ध्याय: कृपाचार्यसे धृष्टद्युम्मनका भय तथा कृतवमकि द्वारा शिखण्डीकी पराजय संजय उवाच धृष्टद्युम्न॑ कृपो राजन् वारयामास संयुगे । यथा दृष्टवा वने सिंहं शरभो वारयेद् युधि
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ kṛpo rājan vārayāmāsa saṃyuge | yathā dṛṣṭvā vane siṃhaṃ śarabho vārayed yudhi ||
Sanjaya said: O King, in the thick of battle Kripa checked Dhrishtadyumna—just as, on seeing a lion in the forest, a śarabha would hold it back in combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the intensity of martial opposition and the role of steadfast resistance in war; through the śarabha–lion simile it conveys that a seasoned warrior can decisively check even a formidable adversary, reflecting the harsh discipline of kṣatriya conflict.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Kripa confronted and restrained Dhrishtadyumna on the battlefield, comparing Kripa’s act of checking him to a śarabha holding back a lion in combat.