Shloka 346
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
अयोधयन् धर्मराजं मद्रराजपुरस्कृता: । तत्पश्चात् कृपाचार्य, कृतवर्मा और महारथी शकुनि मद्रराज शल्यको आगे करके धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरसे युद्ध करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | ayodhayann dharmarājaṃ madrarāja-puraskṛtāḥ | tataḥ paścāt kṛpācāryaḥ kṛtavarmā ca mahārathī śakuniḥ madrarājaṃ śalyam agre kṛtvā dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram yoddhuṃ pracakramuḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。「マドラ王を先頭に立て、彼らはダルマラージャに戦いを挑んだ。ついで師クṛパ、クリトヴァルマー、そして大車戦士シャクニは――マドラ王シャリヤを前面に押し立て――ダルマラージャ・ユディシュティラへ襲いかかり、刃を交えた。この場面は、戦の混乱の中では、敬われる長老や名高い勇士でさえ、選ばれた指揮者のもとに結集し、ダルマの体現者に対して集中攻撃を加えることを示している。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the moral tension of war: even those associated with learning and seniority (like Kṛpa) participate in violent conflict under political allegiance. It also emphasizes how leadership and formation (placing Śalya in front) shape the ethical and strategic dynamics of battle against Dharmarāja, the figure identified with righteousness.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava-side warriors—Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Śakuni—advance to fight Yudhiṣṭhira. They do so with Śalya, king of Madra, positioned as the foremost leader of their assault.