Shloka 256
अब्रवीद् भरतश्रेष्ठ मद्रराजमिदं वच: । भरतश्रेष्ठ] तब अपनी सेनाको पराजित देख दुर्योधनने दीन होकर मद्रराज शल्यसे इस प्रकार कहा--
sañjaya uvāca |
abravīd bharataśreṣṭha madrarājam idaṃ vacaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai yang terbaik dalam keturunan Bharata! Duryodhana menuturkan kata-kata ini kepada raja Madra, Śalya. Melihat tenteranya sendiri kucar-kacir dan ditewaskan, Duryodhana menjadi tunduk dan gundah, lalu berpaling kepada Śalya untuk memohon pertolongan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical pressure-point in the Mahābhārata: when power falters, a leader’s true character is revealed. Pride gives way to reliance on counsel and allies, and the moral weight of decisions in war becomes sharper under the experience of defeat.
Sañjaya narrates that Duryodhana, seeing his army being defeated, addresses Śalya, the king of Madra. This line functions as a transition into Duryodhana’s forthcoming speech—an appeal or instruction directed to Śalya amid the crisis of battle.