Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 183
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
प्रतीकारपरा भूत्वा चेष्टन्तां विविधा: क्रिया: । आज कुन्तीके सभी पुत्र तथा चारणोंसहित सिद्धगण भी युद्धमें मेरी फुर्ती
pratīkāraparā bhūtvā ceṣṭantāṁ vividhāḥ kriyāḥ | adya kuntīke sarve putrāś cāraṇaiḥ saha siddhagaṇā api yuddhe mama phurtim astrabalaṁ ca bāhubalaṁ ca paśyantu | mama ubhayor bhujayoḥ yathā balaṁ yathā ca me astrajñānaṁ tathā adya mama parākramaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavā mahārathāḥ tasya pratīkāre tatparā nānāprakārāṇi kāryāṇi kartuṁ saceṣṭā bhavantu ||
Śalya declared: “Let the Pandava champions ready themselves with every kind of countermeasure. Let Kunti’s sons—along with the Charanas and even the hosts of Siddhas—witness today, in the midst of battle, my speed, the power of my weapons, and the strength of my arms. In keeping with the force in my two arms and my mastery of weapons, let my prowess be seen today, so that the Pandava great chariot-warriors, intent on resisting it, will be driven to strenuous effort and varied stratagems.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ideal of disciplined readiness: true prowess invites an equally alert counter-response. Martial excellence is portrayed as accountable before witnesses—human and celestial—so effort, skill, and strategic preparedness become ethical duties within the war-code.
Shalya proclaims that his speed, weapon-power, and arm-strength will be displayed in battle for all to see, including celestial observers. He challenges the Pandava great warriors to prepare diverse countermeasures and exert themselves fully to meet his onslaught.
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