Shloka 43
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्र शल्यरथं राजन् विचरन्तं महाहवे । अपश्याम यथापूर्व शक्रस्यासुरसंक्षये
tatra śalyarathaṃ rājan vicarantaṃ mahāhave | apaśyāma yathāpūrva śakrasyāsurasaṃkṣaye ||
राजन्! जैसे पूर्वकाल में असुरों का संहार करते समय इन्द्र का रथ आगे बढ़ता था, उसी प्रकार उस महासमर में हमने राजा शल्य के रथ को विचरते देखा।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic poetry uses divine comparison to convey battlefield dominance, while implicitly reminding the listener that even ‘Indra-like’ prowess operates within the tragic, morally heavy context of mass destruction.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that he saw Śalya’s chariot ranging across the great battle, likening its forward movement to Indra’s chariot in the ancient wars where the Asuras were being destroyed.