Shloka 1
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
ऑपन-माज बछ। ्-ज:डिअ षट्त्रिशो5ध्याय: कर्णका युद्धके लिये प्रस्थान और शल्यसे उसकी बातचीत दुर्योधन उवाच अयं ते कर्ण सारथ्यं मद्रराज: करिष्यति । कृष्णादभ्यधिको यन्ता देवेशस्येव मातलि:,दुर्योधन बोला--कर्ण! ये मद्रराज शल्य तुम्हारा सारथ्यकर्म करेंगे। देवराज इन्द्रके सारथि मातलिके समान ये श्रीकृष्णसे भी श्रेष्ठ रथसंचालक हैं
duryodhana uvāca | ayaṃ te karṇa sārathyaṃ madrarājaḥ kariṣyati | kṛṣṇād abhyadhiko yantā deveśasyeva mātaliḥ ||
દુર્યોધન બોલ્યો—કર્ણ! મદ્રરાજ શલ્ય તારો સારથ્ય કરશે. જેમ દેવેશ ઇન્દ્રના સારથી માતલિ છે, તેમ એ યંતા છે; અને રથચાલનમાં તો એ શ્રીકૃષ્ણથી પણ વધુ નિપુણ છે.
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, power is not only in weapons but also in guidance and control (the charioteer). It also shows the ethical risk of pride and overconfidence—Duryodhana elevates his side by exaggerated comparison, even claiming superiority over Kṛṣṇa, a claim that reflects partiality and hubris rather than measured discernment.
As Karna prepares for battle, Duryodhana assures him that Śalya, king of Madra, will act as his charioteer. To encourage Karna, Duryodhana praises Śalya’s skill, comparing him to Mātali, Indra’s famed charioteer, and even asserting that Śalya surpasses Kṛṣṇa in charioteering.