Mahabharata 9.18.4 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 18, Shloka 4
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
युधिष्ठिरं जिघांसन्त: पाण्डूनां प्राविशन् बलम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! मद्रराज शल्यके मारे जानेपर उनके अनुगामी सात सौ वीर रथी विशाल कौरव-सेनासे निकल पड़े। उस समय दुर्योधन पर्वताकार हाथीपर आरूढ़ हो सिरपर छत्र धारण किये चामरोंसे वीजित होता हुआ वहाँ आया और “न जाओ
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ jighāṃsantaḥ pāṇḍūnāṃ prāviśan balam | te tu śūrā mahārāja kṛtacittāś ca yodhane ||
សញ្ជ័យបាននិយាយ៖ «ព្រះរាជា! ដោយបំណងសម្លាប់យុធិષ્ઠិរ ពួកគេបានបង្ខំខ្លួនចូលទៅក្នុងកងទ័ពបណ្ឌវ។ វីរបុរសទាំងនោះ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រដ៏អង្គអធិការ ចិត្តបានដាក់មាំលើសង្គ្រាម ក៏រុញទៅមុខ—ដោយសេចក្តីស្មោះត្រង់ចំពោះមេដឹកនាំដែលបានដួល និងដោយចលនាខ្មៅងងឹតនៃសង្គ្រាម ទោះមានអ្នកអំពាវនាវឲ្យទប់ស្កាត់ក៏ដោយ។»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fixed resolve in war—especially when fueled by vengeance and group-loyalty—can override counsel and restraint. It implicitly warns that determination without dharmic discernment becomes a force that drives violence forward even after a leader’s fall.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that certain warriors, intent on killing Yudhiṣṭhira, surge into the Pāṇḍava ranks. The emphasis is on their single-minded battle-readiness and their aggressive entry into the opposing army.
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