Shloka 18
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तत्पश्चात् महामना मद्रराज शल्यने सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी बाणसे अत्यन्त वेगवान् और भयंकर बलशाली वीर युधिष्ठिरकी छातीमें चोट पहुँचायी ।। ततो5तिविद्धो5थ युधिष्ठिरोडपि सुसम्प्रयुक्तेन शरेण राजन । जघान मद्राधिपतिं महात्मा मुर्दें च लेभे ऋषभ: कुरूणाम्,राजन! उससे अत्यन्त घायल होनेपर भी कुरुकुल-शिरोमणि महात्मा युधिष्ठिरने अच्छी तरह चलाये हुए बाणके द्वारा मद्रराज शल्यको आहत (एवं मूर्च्छित) कर दिया। इससे उन्हें बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई
tatpaścāt mahāmanā madrarājaḥ śalyas tu sūryāgnisama-tejasā bāṇena atyanta-vegavān bhīma-balaḥ vīraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram urasi samāhatya | tato ’tividdho ’tha yudhiṣṭhiro ’pi su-samprayuktena śareṇa rājan | jaghāna madrādhipatiṃ mahātmā mūrdhni ca lebhe ṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇām ||
Thereafter the high-souled king of Madra, Śalya—radiant like the sun and fire—struck the heroic Yudhiṣṭhira on the chest with a swift, dreadful, and power-laden arrow. Though grievously pierced, Yudhiṣṭhira, the bull among the Kurus, answered with a well-aimed shaft and smote the lord of Madra, bringing him to a stunned collapse.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wounded, a ruler committed to kṣatriya-dharma must remain steady, act with discipline rather than panic, and respond with controlled skill. The verse frames valor not as rage but as steadfast endurance and competent action amid suffering.
Śalya strikes Yudhiṣṭhira hard in the chest with a blazing, fast arrow. Despite being badly pierced, Yudhiṣṭhira retaliates with a well-shot arrow and hits Śalya, leaving him stunned/overpowered in that exchange.