Shloka 1
ऑपन--माज बक। अकाल चतुर्नवतितमो< ध्याय: शल्यके द्वारा रणभूमिका दिग्दर्शन
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā tu sainyaṃ parivartyamānaṃ putreṇa te madrapatistadānīm |
santrastarūpaḥ parimūḍhacetā duryodhanaṃ vākyam idaṃ babhāṣe ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, melihat putramu saat itu berusaha memutar kembali bala tentara, Śalya, penguasa Madra—wajahnya terguncang oleh takut dan pikirannya diliputi kebingungan—berbicara kepada Duryodhana dengan kata-kata ini.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and mental confusion can overtake even powerful leaders in crisis, shaping their counsel and decisions. Ethically, it points to the inner collapse that accompanies adharma: when a cause is unrighteous and fortunes turn, steadiness of mind and clarity of judgment are among the first casualties.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana is trying to rally or turn back the army. Seeing this, Śalya—alarmed and bewildered—begins to speak to Duryodhana, setting up the ensuing dialogue and tactical-moral commentary in the chapter.