Shloka 35
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
स मद्रराज: सहसा विकीर्णो भीमाग्रगै: पाण्डवयो धमुख्यै: । युधिष्ठटिरस्याभिमुखं जवेन सिंहो यथा मृगहेतो: प्रयात:,भीम जिनके अगुआ थे, उन पाण्डवपक्षके प्रमुख वीरोंद्वारा बाणोंसे आच्छादित किये गये मद्रराज शल्य सहसा बड़े वेगसे युधिष्ठिरकी ओर दौड़े, मानो कोई सिंह किसी मृगको पकड़नेके लिये झपटा हो
sa madrarājaḥ sahasā vikīrṇo bhīmāgragaiḥ pāṇḍavayodhamukhyaiḥ | yudhiṣṭhirasya abhimukhaṃ javena siṃho yathā mṛgahetoḥ prayātaḥ ||
ഭീമൻ മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന പാണ്ഡവപ്രധാന യോദ്ധാക്കളുടെ അമ്പുകളാൽ മൂടപ്പെട്ട മദ്രരാജൻ ശല്യൻ പെട്ടെന്നു മഹാവേഗത്തിൽ യുധിഷ്ഠിരന്റെ നേരെ പാഞ്ഞു—ഇര പിടിക്കാനായി സിംഹം ചാടുന്നതുപോലെ.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: even when overwhelmed by enemy missiles, a warrior-king presses forward toward his chosen objective. Ethically, it frames battle as a test of resolve and leadership under pressure, while also reminding the reader that martial prowess can be driven by predatory intensity (the lion-prey simile), not merely by righteousness.
Sañjaya describes Śalya, the Madra king, being showered with arrows by the leading Pāṇḍava fighters headed by Bhīma. Despite this, Śalya suddenly charges at high speed directly toward Yudhiṣṭhira, compared to a lion rushing to seize a deer.