Shloka 13

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

पीड्यमानास्तु शल्येन पाण्डवा भृशविक्षता: । प्राद्रवन्त रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाने युधिष्ठिरे,शल्यके द्वारा पीड़ित एवं अत्यन्त घायल हुए पाण्डव-सैनिक युधिष्ठिरके पुकारनेपर भी युद्ध छोड़कर भाग चले

Transliteration

pīḍyamānās tu śalyena pāṇḍavā bhṛśa-vikṣatāḥ | prādravan raṇaṃ hitvā krośamāne yudhiṣṭhire ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Tormented by Śalya and grievously wounded, the Pāṇḍava troops abandoned the battlefield and fled—even as Yudhiṣṭhira cried out to them. The scene underscores how fear and pain can fracture resolve in war, testing a leader’s duty to steady his forces amid chaos.

Word by Word

पीड्यमानाःbeing afflicted/tormented

तुbut/indeed

शल्येनby Shalya

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas (Pandava warriors)

भृश-विक्षताःseverely wounded

प्राद्रवन्ran away/fled

रणम्the battle

हित्वाhaving abandoned

क्रोशमानेwhile (he was) crying out/calling

युधिष्ठिरेwhen/while Yudhishthira (was calling)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śalya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Pāṇḍavas (Pāṇḍava army)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: physical suffering and terror can overwhelm discipline, and a righteous leader’s duty includes sustaining morale and preventing panic-driven collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya’s assault leaves the Pāṇḍava troops badly wounded; despite Yudhiṣṭhira’s loud calls to hold their ground, many abandon the fight and flee the battlefield.