Shloka 38
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
स रथे5तिरथस्तिष्ठन् रथशक्ति परामृशत्
sa rathe 'tirathas tiṣṭhan rathaśaktiṃ parāmṛśat
Sañjaya dit : Debout, inébranlable sur son char tel un guerrier d’élite, il saisit la lance du char, se préparant au prochain coup décisif au milieu des devoirs implacables de la bataille.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of preparedness and resolve: in the chaos of war, a warrior must remain steady, choose the appropriate weapon, and act decisively—discipline and readiness being central to martial dharma.
Sanjaya narrates that a leading warrior, standing on his chariot, takes up a rathaśakti (a chariot-spear/javelin), signaling an imminent attack or a critical turn in the ongoing combat.