Shloka 43
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
संजय उवाच एवमस्त्विति मद्रेश उक्त्वा नोत्तरमुक्तवान् | याहि शल्येति चाप्येनं कर्ण: प्राह युयुत्मया
sañjaya uvāca evam astv iti madreśa uktvā no uttaram uktavān | yāhi śalyeti cāpy enaṃ karṇaḥ prāha yuyutmayā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, penguasa Madra, Śalya, setelah berkata ‘Biarlah demikian,’ pun terdiam dan tidak memberi jawaban lagi atas kata-kata Karṇa. Lalu Karṇa, bernafsu akan perang, berkata kepadanya: ‘Śalya, majukan kereta ini.’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how assent can be given without inner agreement: Śalya’s ‘evam astu’ followed by silence suggests restrained compliance amid tension, while Karṇa’s immediate command shows single-minded commitment to battle-duty.
After Karṇa speaks, Śalya (the Madra king serving as Karṇa’s charioteer) replies only ‘So be it’ and offers no further response. Karṇa, intent on fighting, then orders Śalya to drive the chariot forward.