Shloka 2
कर्णपर्व — द्विचक्रिकी युद्धपरिस्थिति: धृष्टद्युम्न- द्रौणि-संघर्षः तथा अर्जुन-रक्षणम्
Chapter 42
यत् त्वं निदर्शनार्थ मां शल्य जल्पितवानसि । नाहं शक््यस्त्वया वाचा बिभीषयितुमाहवे,“शल्य! तुमने दृष्टान्तके लिये मेरे प्रति जो वाग्जाल फैलाया है उसके उत्तरमें निवेदन है कि तुम इस युद्धस्थलमें मुझे अपनी बातोंसे नहीं डरा सकते
yat tvaṁ nidarśanārthaṁ māṁ śalya jalpitavān asi | nāhaṁ śakyas tvayā vācā bibhīṣayitum āhave ||
Sañjaya said: “O Śalya, the web of words you have spun at me merely by way of illustration—know this in reply: in this battlefield you cannot frighten me with speech.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in battle: mere words, even when framed as illustrative or rhetorical, should not shake one’s resolve. It points to the ethical ideal of courage and composure under provocation.
Sañjaya reports a sharp reply addressed to Śalya: Śalya has spoken at length using an example, but the respondent declares that such speech cannot intimidate him in the midst of war.