Shloka 28
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम मद्रराजस्य पौरुषम् । यदेनं सहिता: पार्था नाभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे
tatrādbhutam apaśyāma madrarājasya pauruṣam | yad enaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā nābhyavartanta saṃyuge ||
Di sana kami menyaksikan keperkasaan menakjubkan Śalya, raja Madra: walaupun para Pāṇḍava berdiri bersatu, mereka tidak mampu menundukkannya dalam pertempuran. Adegan ini menegaskan bahawa dalam perang, bilangan yang ramai tidak menjamin kemenangan apabila berhadapan dengan keberanian dan kemahiran yang luar biasa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that excellence in courage and martial skill can outweigh numerical advantage; it also reflects the Kṣatriya ideal of steadfast valor in battle, where outcomes depend on more than mere force.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that in the great battle Śalya, king of Madra, displayed astonishing prowess—so much so that the Pāṇḍavas, even acting together, could not subdue him in combat.