Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 8

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार मृत्यु और यमराजके समान शत्रुसेनाका संहार करनेवाले राजा शल्यको अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरे हुए पाण्डव, पांचाल तथा सोमकयोद्धाओंने चारों ओरसे घेर लिया ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

iti mṛtyu-yamarāja-samāna-śatru-senā-saṃhārakaṃ rājānaṃ śalyaṃ atyanta-krodha-paripūrṇāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ pāñcālāḥ somakāś ca samantād paryavārayām āsuḥ ||

taṃ bhīmasenaś ca śineś ca naptā mādrīyāś ca putrau puruṣa-pravīrau |

samāgataṃ bhīma-balena rājñā paryāptam anyonyam athāhvayanta ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Thus the Pandavas—together with the Panchalas and the Somakas—ablaze with fierce wrath, surrounded King Shalya on every side, he who destroyed the enemy host like Death and Yama. Then Bhimasena, Satyaki the grandson of Shini, and Madri’s two sons, the foremost of men, Nakula and Sahadeva—advancing with the mighty King Yudhishthira—began to challenge the fully capable Shalya, calling him out for single combat amid the crush of battle.

Word by Word

• तं: him (that one)
• तं: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीमसेनः: Bhimasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिनेः: of Shini
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिनि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नप्ता: grandson
• नप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माद्र्याः: of Madri
• Type: Noun
• Root: माद्री
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• पुत्रौ: two sons
• पुत्रौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• पुरुषप्रवीरौ: foremost among men
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुषप्रवीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• समागतं: assembled / come together (as one met)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• भीमबलेन: with terrible strength
• भीमबलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमबल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राज्ञा: by/with the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पर्याप्तम्: fully capable / sufficient (for combat)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्याप्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually, one another
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• आह्वयन्त: they challenged / called out
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वा
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shalya
• Yama
• Mrityu (Death)
• Pandavas
• Panchalas
• Somakas
• Bhimasena (Bhima)
• Satyaki
• Shini
• Madri
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Yudhishthira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames Shalya as ‘like Death and Yama’ to stress the moral gravity of war: when adharma-driven conflict reaches its climax, even great kings become instruments of destruction. It also highlights kshatriya-dharma in its stark form—leaders and champions must confront formidable opponents directly, yet the imagery warns that unchecked wrath turns the battlefield into a realm ruled by death.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Shalya has been devastating enemy forces, the Pandava alliance (Pandavas, Panchalas, Somakas) encircles him. Bhima, Satyaki, and the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, together with King Yudhishthira, close in and challenge Shalya to combat, setting up a focused confrontation amid the larger battle.