Shloka 61

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

प्रदक्षिणमभूत्‌ सर्व धर्मराजस्य युध्यत: । ततः शरशतं शल्यो मुमोचाथ युधिष्ठिरे

Transliteration

pradakṣiṇam abhūt sarvaṃ dharmarājasya yudhyataḥ | tataḥ śaraśataṃ śalyo mumocātha yudhiṣṭhire ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira fought on, everything turned to his right—an auspicious sign in his favor. Then Śalya loosed a hundred arrows at Yudhiṣṭhira.

Word by Word

• प्रदक्षिणम्: to the right; clockwise; in a rightward course
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रदक्षिण
• Form: Avyaya (adverbial accusative form used indeclinably)

• अभूत्: became; was
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Aorist (luṅ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

• सर्वम्: all; the whole
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज
• Form: Masculine, genitive singular

• युध्यतः: while fighting; of (him) fighting
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Present active participle (śatṛ), masculine/neuter genitive singular (agreeing with धर्मराजस्य)

• ततः: then; thereafter; from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya

• शरशतम्: a hundred arrows
• शरशतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरशत
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• शल्यः: Śalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• मुमोच: released; discharged
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Perfect (liṭ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

• अथ: then; and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ
• Form: Avyaya

• युधिष्ठिरे: upon/at Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, locative singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Śalya
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse juxtaposes auspicious omens with the harsh immediacy of combat: dharma may be favored, yet it must still be upheld through steadfast action and endurance. Ethical strength is shown not by the absence of adversity but by remaining firm while facing it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that favorable signs (everything turning to the right) appear for Yudhiṣṭhira as he fights. Immediately after, Śalya counters by shooting a hundred arrows at him, intensifying the duel despite the auspicious indication.