Shloka 56
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
शल्यस्तु शरवर्षेण पीडयामास पाण्डवम् | मद्रराजं तु कौन्तेय: शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्,शल्यने बाणोंकी वर्षा करके पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको पीड़ित कर दिया तथा कुन्तीकुमार युधिष्ठिरने भी बाणोंकी वर्षद्वारा मद्रराज शल्यको आच्छादित कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | śalyas tu śaravarṣeṇa pīḍayāmāsa pāṇḍavam | madrarājaṃ tu kaunteyaḥ śaravarṣair avākirat |
ശല്യൻ അമ്പുവർഷംകൊണ്ട് പാണ്ഡവനായ യുധിഷ്ഠിരനെ പീഡിപ്പിച്ചു; കുന്തീപുത്രനായ യുധിഷ്ഠിരനും മറുപടിയായി അമ്പുവർഷങ്ങളാൽ മദ്രരാജൻ ശല്യനെ മൂടിക്കളഞ്ഞു।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reciprocity of warfare: aggression is met with counter-aggression, and martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) demands steadfast response even when the action itself is violent. It reflects endurance and resolve rather than a moral celebration of violence.
Sañjaya reports a direct exchange in battle: Śalya showers Yudhiṣṭhira with arrows, causing him distress, and Yudhiṣṭhira retaliates by covering Śalya with an answering rain of arrows.