Shloka 85
शल्य उवाच किमत्र ब्रूहि साहां ते करोमि नृपसत्तम । काम योत्स्ये परस्यार्थे बद्धो<5स्म्यर्थेन कौरवै:,शल्य बोले--नृपश्रेष्ठ। बताओ, इस विषयमें मैं तुम्हारी क्या सहायता करूँ? कौरवोंके द्वारा मैं अर्थसे बँधा हुआ हूँ; अतः अपने इच्छानुसार युद्ध तो मैं तुम्हारे विपक्षीकी ओरसे ही करूँगा
śalya uvāca: kim atra brūhi sahāyaṃ te karomi nṛpasattama | kāmaṃ yotsye parasya arthe baddho 'smy arthena kauravaiḥ ||
Śalya said: “Tell me—what help can I render you here, O best of kings? Though I may wish otherwise, I am bound by the Kauravas through wealth and obligation; therefore I will fight, as I choose, on behalf of your opponent.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension between personal intention and binding obligation: material indebtedness (artha) can compel a warrior’s allegiance even against his preferred course, raising ethical questions about loyalty purchased by wealth.
Śalya responds to a king’s request for assistance, asking what help is desired, but declares that he is already obligated to the Kauravas due to material ties; therefore he will fight on the opposing side despite any personal inclination.