Shloka 23
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
तानापतत एवाशु पज्चानां वै भुजच्युतान् । वारयामास समरे शस्त्रसड्घै: स मद्रराट्,परंतु मद्रराज शल्यने समरांगणमें अपने शस्त्रसमूहों द्वारा उन पाँचों वीरोंके हाथोंसे छूटे हुए उक्त सभी अस्त्रोंका शीघ्र ही निवारण कर दिया
tān āpatata evāśu pañcānāṁ vai bhujacyutān | vārayāmāsa samare śastrasanghaiḥ sa madrarāṭ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika segala peluru dan senjata yang dilepaskan dari tangan lima pahlawan itu meluru deras, raja Madra, Śalya, segera menangkisnya di medan perang dengan rentetan senjatanya sendiri—memperlihatkan disiplin perang yang keras, di mana kewaspadaan dan tindak balas menentukan hidup dan mati.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield ethic of the Mahābhārata, a kṣatriya’s duty includes vigilance, restraint, and measured response: Śalya’s swift countering of incoming weapons illustrates disciplined skill rather than reckless aggression.
Weapons hurled by five warriors rush toward Śalya; he immediately neutralizes them in combat by launching clusters of his own weapons, preventing their impact.