Shloka 1
Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें शास्रका वधविषयक बीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ २० ॥ एकविशोड< ध्याय: सात्यविद्दारा क्षेमधूर्तिका वध, कृतवर्माका युद्ध और उसकी पराजय एवं कौरवसेनाका पलायन संजय उवाच तस्मिंस्तु निहते शूरे शाल्वे समितिशो भने । तवाभज्यद् बलं वेगाद् वातेनेव महाद्रुम:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन! युद्धमें शोभा पानेवाले शूरवीर शाल्वके मारे जानेपर आपकी सेनाके पाँव उखड़ गये। जैसे वेगपूर्वक चली हुई वायुके झोंकेसे कोई विशाल वृक्ष उखड़ गया हो
sañjaya uvāca | tasmiṃstu nihate śūre śālve samitiśobhane | tava abha jyad balaṃ vegād vāteneva mahādrumaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, when the heroic Śālva—who lent splendor to the battle—was slain, your army’s resolve broke and it reeled in sudden panic, like a great tree torn up by a violent gust of wind.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical reality that armies depend on cohesion and morale; when a renowned champion falls, collective confidence can collapse instantly. It implicitly warns rulers that power is fragile if it rests on a few pillars rather than steady discipline and righteous resolve.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that after the warrior Śālva is killed, the Kaurava forces lose their footing and begin to break apart, compared to a mighty tree uprooted by a strong wind.