Shloka 49
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
(स्फुरत्प्रभामण्डलमंशुजालै- धर्मात्मनो मद्रविनाशकाले । पुरत्रयप्रोत्सरणे पुरस्ता- न्याहेश्वरं रूपमभूत् तदानीम् ।।) पूर्वकालमें त्रिपुरोंका विनाश करते समय भगवान् महेश्वरका जैसा स्वरूप प्रकट हुआ था, वैसा ही शल्यके संहारकालमें उस समय धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिरका रूप जान पड़ता था। वे अपने किरणसमूहोंसे प्रभाका पुंज बिखेर रहे थे। तां सर्वशक्त्या प्रहितां सुशक्ति युधिष्ठिरेणाप्रतिवार्यवीर्याम् । प्रतिग्रहायाभिननर्द शल्य: सम्यग्घुतामग्निरिवाज्यधाराम्,युधिष्ठिरने उस उत्तम शक्तिको अपना सारा बल लगाकर चलाया था। इसके सिवा, उसके बल और प्रभावको रोकना किसीके लिये भी असम्भव था तो भी उसकी चोट सहनेके लिये मद्रराज शल्य गरज उठे, मानो हवन की हुई घृतधाराको ग्रहण करनेके लिये अग्निदेव प्रज्वलित हो उठे हों
sphuratprabhāmaṇḍalam aṃśujālair dharmātmano madravināśakāle | puratrayaprotsaraṇe purastān nyāheśvaraṃ rūpam abhūt tadānīm || tāṃ sarvaśaktyā prahitāṃ suśaktiṃ yudhiṣṭhireṇāprativāryavīryām | pratigrahāyābhinanarda śalyaḥ samyagghutām agnir ivājyadhārām ||
Sañjaya said: At the time of destroying Śalya, the righteous Yudhiṣṭhira appeared with a blazing halo and a net of rays—like the very form of Lord Maheśvara that once manifested in the ancient destruction of the three cities (Tripura). Then Yudhiṣṭhira hurled that excellent spear with all his strength; its force and efficacy were irresistible. Yet King Śalya roared to receive the blow, like fire flaring up to accept a well-offered stream of ghee in sacrifice.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous action in war through sacred imagery: Yudhiṣṭhira’s dharmic resolve shines with a divine-like radiance, while Śalya’s fearless acceptance of the inevitable is likened to sacrificial fire receiving an offering—suggesting that even violent events are interpreted within a moral and cosmic order.
Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira appearing radiant like Śiva at the time of Tripura’s destruction, then hurling an irresistible Śakti-spear. Śalya roars and braces to receive it, compared to Agni flaring up to take in a properly offered stream of ghee.