Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
दशाड़ूं यश्चतुष्पादमिष्वस्त्रं वेद तत्त्वतः | साज़ांस्तु चतुरो वेदान् सम्यगाख्यानपञठ्चमान्
daśāḍūṁ yaś catuṣpādam iṣv-astraṁ veda tattvataḥ | sāzāṁs tu caturo vedān samyag ākhyāna-pañcamān |
संजय म्हणाला—जो धनुर्विद्येचे ‘दशविध’ आणि ‘चतुष्पाद’ तत्त्व खऱ्या अर्थाने जाणतो, तो जणू चारही वेद आणि पाचवा म्हणून इतिहास-आख्यान परंपराही सम्यक् जाणतो. युद्धाच्या धर्मसंकटात योद्ध्याच्या शिक्षणाची व विवेकाची खोली मोजण्यासाठी येथे या पूर्ण ज्ञानाचा निर्देश आहे.
संजय उवाच
The verse equates complete mastery of a technical discipline (here, missile-weapon/archery science described as ‘tenfold’ and ‘four-part’) with the breadth and rigor of mastering the Vedas plus the narrative tradition. It highlights that true expertise is not superficial skill but systematic, principled understanding—an ethical measure of competence in a war setting.
Sañjaya is characterizing the depth of a warrior’s knowledge and training during the events of the Śalya Parva. By invoking Vedic mastery as a benchmark, he underscores the exceptional stature of the person being described and frames martial prowess within a wider cultural-ethical ideal of disciplined learning.