Shloka 11
एष शल्यो रथोपस्थे रश्मिसंचारकोविद: । सूतपुत्ररर्ं कृष्ण वाहयन् बहु शोभते
eṣa śalyo rathopasthe raśmisañcārakovidaḥ | sūtaputrasya kṛṣṇa vāhayan bahu śobhate ||
Arjuna berkata: “Lihatlah Raja Śalya—mahir mengendalikan tali kekang—duduk di bahagian bawah kereta perang. Wahai Kṛṣṇa, ketika dia memandu kereta putera sais kereta (Karṇa), dia tampak sangat gemilang.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the contrast between outward glory and the moral complexity of war: even a great king may be placed in a subordinate role, and apparent splendor can coexist with compromised agency and conflicted loyalties—an implicit reminder to evaluate actions by dharma rather than by display.
Arjuna points out to Kṛṣṇa that King Śalya, famed and capable, is seated on Karna’s chariot and expertly managing the reins as Karna’s charioteer, appearing impressive in that role.