Shloka 36
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
न चापि कामान् कौरव्य निधाय हृदये पुमान् । अस्मद्विध: प्रवर्तेत मा मां त्वमभिशड्भशकिथा:,कौरव्य! मेरे-जैसा पुरुष अपने मनमें कुछ कामनाएँ रखकर युद्धमें प्रवृत्त नहीं होता। अतः तुम मुझपर संदेह न करो
na cāpi kāmān kauravya nidhāya hṛdaye pumān | asmadvidhaḥ pravarteta mā māṁ tvam abhiśaṅkithāḥ kauravya ||
Śalya said: “Nor does a man like me enter into action—least of all into battle—after planting personal desires in his heart. Therefore, O Kauravya, do not suspect me.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya asserts that righteous action—especially in war—should not be driven by personal cravings or self-serving motives. He asks Duryodhana not to mistrust him, grounding his stance in character and ethical intention rather than desire.
In the Karṇa Parva, Śalya addresses Duryodhana (called ‘Kauravya’) to clarify his intent. He denies acting from inner ‘kāma’ (self-interested desire) and urges Duryodhana to stop suspecting him, framing his participation as principled rather than motivated by personal gain.