Shloka 79
शल्य उवाच यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय: । शपेयं त्वां महाराज पराभावाय वै रणे,शल्य बोले--महाराज! यदि युद्धका निश्चय कर लेनेपर तुम मेरे पास नहीं आते तो मैं युद्धमें तुम्हारी पराजयके लिये तुम्हें शाप दे देता
śalya uvāca yadi māṃ nābhigacchethā yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ | śapeyaṃ tvāṃ mahārāja parābhāvāya vai raṇe ||
Śalya said: “O great king, if—after resolving upon battle—you had not come to me, I would have pronounced a curse upon you, that you should meet defeat in the fight.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral weight attributed to a warrior-king’s deliberate choices and alliances: once a resolve for war is made, one must seek proper counsel and support; neglecting rightful approach and protocol is portrayed as inviting ethical and practical ruin—symbolized by a curse leading to defeat.
Śalya addresses a king and states that if the king, despite having decided on war, had not come to him, Śalya would have cursed him to suffer defeat in battle. The line underscores Śalya’s influence and the seriousness of approaching key figures before entering war.