Shloka 35
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
इसी प्रकार महामना कुरुराज युधिष्ठिरने भी सुन्दर धनुष हाथमें लेकर द्रोणाचार्यके दिये हुए नाना प्रकारके उपदेशोंका प्रदर्शन करते हुए शीघ्रतापूर्वक सुन्दर एवं विचित्र रीतिसे बाणोंकी वर्षा प्रारम्भ कर दी ।। न चास्य विवरं कश्चिद् ददर्श चरतो रणे । तावुभौ विविधैर्बाणैस्ततक्षाते परस्परम्
iti prakāraṁ mahāmanā kururāja yudhiṣṭhiro 'pi sundaraṁ dhanuḥ haste gṛhītvā droṇācāryasya datta-nānā-vidhopadeśānāṁ pradarśanaṁ kurvan śīghratayā sundara-vicitra-rītyā bāṇānāṁ varṣaṁ prārabhata || na cāsya vivaraṁ kaścid dadarśa carato raṇe | tāv ubhau vividhair bāṇais tatakṣāte parasparam ||
In this manner, the high-minded Kuru king Yudhiṣṭhira too, taking up his splendid bow, began to display the many kinds of instructions once given by Droṇācārya. Swiftly, and in a beautiful yet astonishing style, he commenced a shower of arrows. No one could discern any opening in him as he moved about on the battlefield; and the two of them struck at each other again and again with arrows of many kinds.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a ruler known for restraint and dharma must, when duty demands, act with disciplined competence. The verse highlights the ethical dimension of kṣatriya-dharma: skill and training are to be employed decisively in battle, without negligence or exposing avoidable weakness.
Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira taking up his bow and demonstrating the varied martial instructions he learned from Droṇa. He moves skillfully so that no opening is visible, and he and his opponent exchange intense volleys of diverse arrows, striking each other repeatedly.