Shloka 16
सम्प्रहृष्टो यदा शल्यो दिदित्सुरपि जीवितम् । गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास मातुलम्,जब हर्षमें भरे हुए राजा शल्य (अपने प्रति किये गये उपकारके बदले) प्राणतक देनेको तैयार हो गये, तब गुप्तरूपसे वहीं छिपा हुआ दुर्योधन मामा शल्यके सामने गया
samprahṛṣṭo yadā śalyo diditsur api jīvitam | gūḍho duryodhanas tatra darśayāmāsa mātulam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When King Śalya, delighted and eager to repay the favor shown to him, was ready even to stake his very life, then Duryodhana—who had been hiding there—came forward and revealed himself before his maternal uncle Śalya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how powerful virtues like gratitude and loyalty, though ethically admirable, can be leveraged within political conflict; discernment is needed so that noble impulses do not become instruments for adharma.
Śalya, pleased and ready to repay a received favor even at the cost of his life, is approached by Duryodhana, who had been concealed nearby and now comes forward to present himself to his maternal uncle.