Shloka 43
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्र शल्यरथं राजन् विचरन्तं महाहवे । अपश्याम यथापूर्व शक्रस्यासुरसंक्षये,राजन! जैसे पूर्वकालमें असुरोंका विनाश करते समय इन्द्रका रथ आगे बढ़ता था, उसी प्रकार उस महासमरमें हमलोगोंने राजा शल्यके रथको विचरते देखा था
tatra śalyarathaṃ rājan vicarantaṃ mahāhave | apaśyāma yathāpūrva śakrasyāsurasaṃkṣaye ||
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、その大合戦において、我らはシャリヤ王の戦車が縦横に駆け巡るのを見た。まさしく昔、インドラがアスラを滅ぼすとき、その戦車が前へ進み出たのと同じである。この比喩により、シャリヤの迅速で威令ある存在は戦場の恐るべき力として描かれ、戦の荒廃が帯びる道義の重みはいっそう深まる。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic poetry uses divine comparison to convey battlefield dominance, while implicitly reminding the listener that even ‘Indra-like’ prowess operates within the tragic, morally heavy context of mass destruction.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that he saw Śalya’s chariot ranging across the great battle, likening its forward movement to Indra’s chariot in the ancient wars where the Asuras were being destroyed.