Shloka 9
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
स्थाणोर्वृषस्य सदृशं स्कन्धनेत्रगतिस्वरै: । पुष्टश्लिष्टायत भुजं सुविस्तीर्णवरोरसम्
sthāṇor vṛṣasya sadṛśaṃ skandha-netra-gati-svaraiḥ | puṣṭa-śliṣṭāyata-bhujaṃ suvistīrṇa-varorasaṃ
Sañjaya said: He appeared like a steadfast pillar or a mighty bull—his shoulders, eyes, gait, and voice all matching that powerful likeness. His arms were strong, well-knit, and long, and his chest was broad and splendid—an image of martial vigor that heightens the gravity of the war’s unfolding.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses epic similes (pillar, bull) to convey steadiness, power, and commanding presence—qualities prized in kṣatriya ideals. Ethically, it underscores how war magnifies human attributes: strength and confidence become narratively prominent, even as they serve a destructive conflict.
Sañjaya is describing a warrior’s imposing physical and behavioral traits—shoulders, eyes, gait, and voice—along with strong arms and a broad chest, to emphasize his formidable readiness and the heightened tension of the battlefield scene.