Shloka 303
विशीर्णदन्तं निहतं तदा नैवं वदिष्यसि । जब तुम देखोगे कि भीमसेनने संग्रामभूमिमें गजराजोंकी सेनाके दाँत तोड़-तोड़कर उसका संहार कर डाला है, तब तुम इस प्रकार नहीं बोल सकोगे
viśīrṇadantaṃ nihataṃ tadā naivaṃ vadiṣyasi |
Śalya said: “When you behold the elephant-host on the battlefield—its tusks shattered and its ranks destroyed by Bhīmasena—you will no longer be able to speak in this manner.” The remark rebukes premature boasting and insists that judgment should follow witnessed deeds in war, not mere words.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Words and confidence must be tested by observable action; in the ethics of war, true assessment comes after witnessing prowess and results, not from prior boasting or dismissive speech.
Śalya addresses his interlocutor (contextually, Karṇa) and predicts that once Bhīmasena is seen crushing the elephant forces—breaking tusks and slaughtering them—the earlier manner of speaking (likely contempt or overconfidence) will cease.