Shloka 10
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें संकुलयुद्धाविषयक दसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,तां दृष्टवा सीदतीं सेनां पड़के गामिव दुर्बलाम् । उज्जिहीर्षुस्तदा शल्य: प्रायात् पाण्डुसुतान् प्रति कीचड़में फँसी हुई दुर्बल गायके समान कौरव-सेनाको बहुत कष्ट पाती देख उसका उद्धार करनेकी इच्छासे राजा शल्यने उस समय पाण्डवोंपर आक्रमण किया
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā sīdatīṃ senāṃ padake gām iva durbalām | ujjihīrṣus tadā śalyaḥ prāyāt pāṇḍusutān prati ||
Seeing the Kaurava host sinking into distress—like a weak cow stuck in mire—King Śalya, wishing to rescue it, advanced at that time against the sons of Pāṇḍu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya-style ethic of leadership in crisis: when one’s forces falter, a commander is expected to act decisively to protect and recover them. It also shows how motives in war are often framed as ‘rescue’ or ‘duty’ rather than mere hostility.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya sees the Kaurava army weakening and sinking into trouble, compared to a frail cow stuck in mud. Wanting to pull his side out of that predicament, Śalya advances to attack the Pāṇḍavas.