Shloka 306
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
प्रत्युद्ययौ रथेनैव मत्तो मत्तमिव द्विपम् युद्धमें शोभा पानेवाले शल्य उनके रथको अपनी ओर आते देख स्वयं भी रथके द्वारा ही उनकी ओर बढ़े। ठीक उसी तरह
pratyudyayau rathenaiva matto mattam iva dvipam
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat Śalya—yang masyhur dengan keindahan dan kegemilangan di medan perang—maju ke arahnya dengan kereta perangnya, dia pun memacu keretanya sendiri untuk menyongsongnya, bagaikan seekor gajah mabuk menghadap seekor gajah lain yang sama-sama mengamuk oleh madanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting a challenge directly: courage and readiness to face an equal opponent without retreat. Ethically, it reflects the martial code where honor is expressed through open confrontation, even when driven by fierce pride and competitive ardor.
Śalya, shining in battle, drives his chariot forward toward his opponent; the other warrior responds by advancing as well. Sañjaya compares their mutual advance to two musth-elephants moving to clash, emphasizing intensity and inevitability of the encounter.