Shloka 63
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
दिश: संछादयामास प्रदिशश्न महारथ: । रणभूमिमें कुपित हुए महारथी शल्यने झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंसे युधिष्ठिरकी सम्पूर्ण दिशाओं और विदिशाओंको ढक दिया ।।
diśaḥ sañchādayāmāsa pradiśaś ca mahārathaḥ | raṇabhūmau kupito mahārathī śalyaḥ śarair avanata-parvaṇā yudhiṣṭhirasya samastā diśo vidiśaś ca ācchādayāmāsa || tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bāṇajālena pīḍitaḥ | babhūvādbhuta-vikrānto jambho vṛtrahaṇā yathā ||
Sañjaya dijo: Enfurecido en el campo de batalla, el gran guerrero de carro, Śalya, cubrió todas las direcciones y los puntos intermedios en torno a Yudhiṣṭhira con una densa lluvia de flechas, de junturas inclinadas al volar. Entonces el rey Yudhiṣṭhira, oprimido por aquella red de saetas, mostró un valor asombroso, como Jambha cuando fue acometido por Vṛtrahan (Indra).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when overwhelmed by force and fear on the battlefield, a ruler committed to kṣatriya-dharma must not collapse inwardly; steadfastness and disciplined courage are portrayed as ethical strength under pressure.
Śalya, furious in combat, unleashes such a thick barrage of arrows that it seems to cover all directions around Yudhiṣṭhira. Yudhiṣṭhira is severely pressed by this ‘net of arrows’ yet responds with remarkable valor, compared to Jambha being assailed by Indra.