Shloka 12
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
ततो द्रुतं मद्रजनाधिपो रणे युधिष्ठिरं सप्तभिरभ्यविद्धयत् । त॑ चापि पार्थो नवभि: पृषत्कै- विंव्याध राजंस्तुमुले महात्मा
tato drutaṁ madrarājādhipo raṇe yudhiṣṭhiraṁ saptabhir abhyaviddhayat | taṁ cāpi pārtho navabhiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ vivyādha rājaṁs tumule mahātmā ||
त्यानंतर मद्रजनाधिपतीने रणात त्वरेने सात बाणांनी युधिष्ठिराला भेदले. आणि राजन्, त्या घनघोर युद्धात महात्मा युधिष्ठिरानेही नऊ बाणांनी शल्याला जखमी केले.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: even a righteous king like Yudhiṣṭhira must respond decisively to aggression. Ethical restraint does not mean passivity in a justly undertaken battle; duty requires measured but effective action.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śalya, the Madra ruler, quickly strikes Yudhiṣṭhira with seven arrows; Yudhiṣṭhira immediately retaliates, wounding Śalya with nine arrows amid the fierce clash.