Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
समुदितबलवाहना: पुनः पुरुषवरेण जिता: स्थ गोग्रहे । सगुरुगुरुसुता: सभीष्मका: किमु न जितः स तदा त्वयार्जुन:
samuditabalavāhanāḥ punaḥ puruṣavareṇa jitāḥ stha gograhe | sagurugurusutāḥ sabhīṣmakāḥ kimu na jitaḥ sa tadā tvayārjunaḥ ||
シャリヤは言った。「ヴィラाटの都で牛を奪った折、おまえたちは大軍と戦車隊を備えながら、またしても人中の最勝者アルジュナに打ち破られた。しかも陣中には、師であるドローナ、その子アシュヴァッターマン、そしてビーシュマという長老たちがいたというのに、なぜその時アルジュナを征服できなかったのだ。以前の遭遇でさえ勝てなかった者が、いま何を根拠に勝利を誇るのか。」
शल्य उवाच
Śalya’s challenge underscores an ethical standard in warrior culture: claims of superiority must be grounded in demonstrated capability. Remembering past outcomes restrains arrogance and exposes self-deception, especially when pride can lead to reckless decisions in war.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, deliberately undermines Karṇa’s confidence by recalling the earlier Virāṭa cattle-raid, where Arjuna defeated the Kaurava side even when senior warriors like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Aśvatthāmā were present. He uses this precedent to question how Karṇa expects to defeat Arjuna now.