Shloka 16
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
सम्प्रहृष्टो यदा शल्यो दिदित्सुरपि जीवितम् । गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास मातुलम्
samprahṛṣṭo yadā śalyo diditsur api jīvitam | gūḍho duryodhanas tatra darśayāmāsa mātulam ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Cuando el rey Śalya, complacido y deseoso de devolver el favor que se le había hecho, estuvo dispuesto incluso a arriesgar su propia vida, entonces Duryodhana—que se había ocultado allí—salió y se reveló ante su tío materno 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.