Shloka 41
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
तत्राद्भुतं परं चक्रे शल्य: शत्रुनिबर्हण: । यदेक: समरे शूरो योधयामास वै बहून्,उस रणभूमिमें शत्रुसूदन शूरवीर शल्यने यह बड़ा अद्भुत पराक्रम किया कि अकेले ही वे उन बहुसंख्यक वीरोंके साथ युद्ध करते रहे
tatrādbhutaṃ paraṃ cakre śalyaḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ | yad ekaḥ samare śūro yodhayāmāsa vai bahūn |
Sanjaya berkata: Di medan perang itu, Śalya—penghancur musuh—melakukan suatu perbuatan yang amat menakjubkan: walau seorang diri, pahlawan itu terus mara dan bertempur melawan ramai lawan di tengah kancah perang. Rangkap ini menonjolkan rasa kagum terhadap keperkasaan seorang pendekar, namun juga menegaskan etika perang yang kelam, apabila keberanian diukur di tengah keganasan yang beramai-ramai.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ideal of kṣatriya valor—steadfastness and fearlessness in combat—even when outnumbered. Ethically, it also invites reflection on how epic praise of heroism coexists with the tragic reality of war, where extraordinary prowess is celebrated amid widespread destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that on the battlefield Śalya displayed an astonishing feat: he fought many warriors while standing alone, demonstrating exceptional martial power and endurance.