Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
पपाताभिमुखो दीनो मद्रराजस्त्वपाक्रमत् | इससे सारथिका मर्मस्थल विदीर्ण हो गया और वह मुहसे रक्त वमन करता हुआ दीन एवं भयभीतचित्त होकर शल्यके सामने ही रथसे नीचे गिर पड़ा। फिर तो मद्रराज शल्य वहाँसे पीछे हट गये ।। ६१ $ ।। कृतप्रतिकृतं दृष्टवा शल्यो विस्मितमानस:
papātābhimukho dīno madrarājas tv apākramat | kṛtapratikṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā śalyo vismitamānasaḥ |
Sañjaya said: Facing forward, the wretched warrior fell down, while the king of Madra, Śalya, withdrew. Seeing that the counterstroke had been fully repaid, Śalya’s mind was struck with astonishment—an episode that underscores how, in the brutal economy of war, violence begets immediate retribution and even seasoned fighters recoil when the consequences of their own actions return upon them.
संजय उवाच