Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
संजय उवाच ततो दुर्योधनो भूयो मद्रराजं तरस्विनम् | उवाच राजन संग्रामे<ध्युषिते पर्युपस्थिते,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर दुर्योधनने प्रातःकाल युद्ध उपस्थित होनेपर पुनः वेगशाली मद्रराज शल्यसे कहा--
sañjaya uvāca | tato duryodhano bhūyo madrarājaṃ tarasvinam | uvāca rājan saṅgrāme 'dhyuṣite paryupasthite ||
Sañjaya berkata: Maka Duryodhana sekali lagi berbicara kepada raja Madra yang perkasa, Śalya: “Wahai Raja, kini pertempuran sudah di ambang, dan hari pertempuran telah menyingsing…”
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores how, when conflict becomes imminent, rulers actively seek reinforcement through counsel and alliance. Ethically, it hints at the responsibility of leadership: decisions made at the threshold of war shape not only strategy but also the moral trajectory (dharma/adharma) of those who participate.
Sañjaya narrates that Duryodhana again turns to Śalya, the powerful king of Madra, and begins addressing him as the morning of battle arrives and combat is about to commence.