Shloka 38
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
स हताश्वे रथे तिष्ठन् मद्राधिपतिरायसीम् । उत्तरान्तकरीं शक्ति चिक्षेप भुजगोपमाम्
sa hatāśve rathe tiṣṭhan madrādhipatir āyasīm | uttarāntakarīṃ śaktiṃ cikṣepa bhujagopamām ||
Sañjaya dit : Bien que ses chevaux eussent été abattus, Śalya, seigneur de Madra, demeurant debout sur ce char, lança une lance de fer—terrible comme un serpent—dans l’intention d’ôter la vie au prince Uttara.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless nature of war: even after suffering immediate loss (the chariot’s horses), a warrior persists and directs his prowess toward killing. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor and the tragic cost of violence.
Sañjaya describes Śalya, king of Madra, still on his chariot despite its horses being slain, hurling an iron śakti (spear/javelin) that is serpent-like and aimed to kill Prince Uttara.