Shloka 32
स निर्भिद्य महात्मानं वेगेनाभ्यपतच्च गाम् । उस समय शल्यने युधिष्ठिरपर विषैले सर्पके समान एक भयंकर बाणका प्रहार किया। वह बाण बड़े वेगसे महात्मा युधिष्ठिरको घायल करके पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा ।। ततो वृकोदर: क्रुद्ध: शल्यं विव्याध सप्तभि:,यह देख भीमसेन कुपित हो उठे। उन्होंने सात बाणोंसे शल्यको बींध डाला। फिर सहदेवने पाँच, नकुलने दस और द्रौपदीके पुत्रोंने अनेक बाणोंसे शत्रुसूदन शूरवीर शल्यको घायल कर दिया
sa nirbhidya mahātmānaṁ vegenābhyapatac ca gām | tato vṛkodaraḥ kruddhaḥ śalyaṁ vivyādha saptabhiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Striking and piercing the noble-souled one with great speed, the missile fell to the earth. Seeing this, Bhīma (Vṛkodara), inflamed with wrath, pierced Śalya with seven arrows. The scene underscores the brutal momentum of war: injury provokes immediate retaliation, and valor is expressed through swift counterblows rather than restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare amplifies cycles of harm: a grievous strike immediately triggers counter-strikes. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor (swift retaliation in battle) and the tragic cost of violence that spreads through reaction.
Śalya’s fast, piercing attack wounds the great-souled Yudhiṣṭhira and the projectile falls to the ground. Witnessing Yudhiṣṭhira’s injury, Bhīma becomes enraged and shoots Śalya with seven arrows in immediate retaliation.