Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 21
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
भीमसेनो<5थ नाराचं ज्वलन्तमिव पन्नगम्
sañjaya uvāca | bhīmaseno 'tha nārācaṃ jvalantam iva pannagam prāhiṇot | nakulaḥ saṅgrāmabhūmau śalyapar śaktiṃ mumoca | sahadevaḥ sundarāṃ gadāṃ prāhiṇot | dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraś ca raṇakṣetre śalyaṃ hantum icchan śataghnīprahāraṃ cakāra |
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು: ಆಗ ಭೀಮಸೇನನು ಅಗ್ನಿಸರ್ಪದಂತೆ ಜ್ವಲಿಸುವ ನಾರಾಚವನ್ನು ಹಾರಿಸಿದನು. ನಕುಲನು ಯುದ್ಧಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶಲ್ಯನ ಮೇಲೆ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಎಸೆದನು. ಸಹದೇವನು ಸುಂದರವಾದ ಗದೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಯೋಗಿಸಿದನು. ಧರ್ಮರಾಜ ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಶಲ್ಯನನ್ನು ಸಂಹರಿಸಬೇಕೆಂಬ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪದಿಂದ ರಣಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನ ಮೇಲೆ ಶತಘ್ನಿಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಹಾರ ಮಾಡಿದನು।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is framed as duty and purpose: the Pandavas act with coordinated resolve to neutralize a dangerous adversary. The verse highlights intention (to end Shalya’s threat) and disciplined execution, underscoring the Mahabharata’s recurring tension between necessary violence and ethical responsibility.
Sanjaya reports a sequence of attacks on Shalya: Bhima shoots a fierce nārāca likened to a blazing serpent; Nakula hurls a śakti; Sahadeva sends a mace; and Yudhishthira strikes with a śataghnī, aiming to kill Shalya on the battlefield.
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