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 ||
जब हर्ष से परिपूर्ण राजा शल्य उपकार के प्रत्युपकार में प्राण तक देने को उद्यत हो गए, तब वहीं छिपा हुआ दुर्योधन अपने मामा शल्य के सामने प्रकट हो गया।
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.