Shloka 32
शितै: पृषत्कै: कुर्वाणानभ्रच्छायामिवाम्बरे । अस्यतः: क्षिण्वतश्नारील्लघुहस्तान् दुरासदान् | पार्थिवानपि चान्यांस्त्वं तदा नैवं वदिष्यसि,जब तुम्हें यह दिखायी देगा कि संग्राममें धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिर, नकुल-सहदेव तथा अन्यान्य दुर्जय भूपाल बड़ी शीघ्रताके साथ हाथ चला रहे हैं, अपने तीखे बाणोंद्वारा आकाभमें मेघोंकी छायाके समान छाया कर रहे हैं, निरन्तर बाण-वर्षा करते और शत्रुओंका संहार किये डालते हैं, तब तुम ऐसी बातें मुंहले न निकाल सकोगे
śitaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ kurvāṇān abhracchāyām ivāmbare | asyataḥ kṣiṇvataś śatrūl laghuhastān durāsadān || pārthivān api cānyāṁs tvaṁ tadā naivaṁ vadiṣyasi |
Śalya said: “When you see those hard-to-assail kings—swift of hand—sending forth sharp arrows so that they cast, as it were, a cloud-like shadow across the sky, ceaselessly showering missiles and cutting down their foes, then you will no longer be able to speak in this boastful way. When Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira, Nakula, Sahadeva, and other unconquerable rulers are visibly at work in battle, your pride will be checked by the reality of their dharmic resolve and martial power.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against empty bravado in war: true assessment of opponents and humility before proven strength are part of kṣatriya-dharma. Śalya implies that dharmically grounded warriors, acting with discipline and skill, will silence reckless speech.
Śalya describes a vivid battlefield scene—arrows darkening the sky like cloud-shadow—as formidable kings (including Yudhiṣṭhira, Nakula, and Sahadeva) relentlessly strike down enemies. He tells his addressee that once this is witnessed, earlier boastful talk will not continue.