Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 30
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
तान् प्रेक्ष्य सहितान् सर्वान् जवेनोद्यतकार्मुकान् । सौबलोअभ्यद्रवद् युद्धे पाण्डवानाततायिन:
tān prekṣya sahitān sarvān javena udyata-kārmukān | saubalo 'bhyadravad yuddhe pāṇḍavān ātatāyinaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat mereka semua berkumpul, melesat maju dengan kecepatan besar dan busur terangkat, Saubala (Śakuni) di medan laga menerjang ke arah para Pāṇḍava—yang di sini disebut sebagai para penyerang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral framing operates in war-narrative: the opposing side is labeled ātatāyin (“aggressor”), showing how ethical judgment and propaganda-like characterization accompany battlefield action, even as combat proceeds under kṣatriya norms.
Sañjaya reports that Śakuni (Saubala), seeing the Pāṇḍava forces advancing together with raised bows, rushes forward to engage them in battle.