Shloka 32
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
स निर्भिद्य महात्मानं वेगेनाभ्यपतच्च गाम् । उस समय शल्यने युधिष्ठिरपर विषैले सर्पके समान एक भयंकर बाणका प्रहार किया। वह बाण बड़े वेगसे महात्मा युधिष्ठिरको घायल करके पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा ।। ततो वृकोदर: क्रुद्ध: शल्यं विव्याध सप्तभि:,यह देख भीमसेन कुपित हो उठे। उन्होंने सात बाणोंसे शल्यको बींध डाला। फिर सहदेवने पाँच, नकुलने दस और द्रौपदीके पुत्रोंने अनेक बाणोंसे शत्रुसूदन शूरवीर शल्यको घायल कर दिया
sa nirbhidya mahātmānaṁ vegenābhyapatac ca gām | tato vṛkodaraḥ kruddhaḥ śalyaṁ vivyādha saptabhiḥ |
Sañjaya said: The missile, flying with great force, struck and pierced the noble-souled Yudhiṣṭhira, and then fell to the earth. Seeing this, Bhīma (Vṛkodara), aflame with wrath, pierced Śalya with seven arrows. Then Sahadeva with five, Nakula with ten, and the sons of Draupadī with many more, wounded Śalya—the foe-slaying hero—grievously.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare amplifies cycles of harm: a grievous strike immediately triggers counter-strikes. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor (swift retaliation in battle) and the tragic cost of violence that spreads through reaction.
Śalya’s fast, piercing attack wounds the great-souled Yudhiṣṭhira and the projectile falls to the ground. Witnessing Yudhiṣṭhira’s injury, Bhīma becomes enraged and shoots Śalya with seven arrows in immediate retaliation.