Shloka 13

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

पीड्यमानास्तु शल्येन पाण्डवा भृशविक्षता: । प्राद्रवन्त रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाने युधिष्ठिरे,शल्यके द्वारा पीड़ित एवं अत्यन्त घायल हुए पाण्डव-सैनिक युधिष्ठिरके पुकारनेपर भी युद्ध छोड़कर भाग चले

Transliteration

pīḍyamānās tu śalyena pāṇḍavā bhṛśa-vikṣatāḥ | prādravan raṇaṃ hitvā krośamāne yudhiṣṭhire ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Diseksa oleh Śalya dan cedera parah, bala tentera Pāṇḍava meninggalkan medan perang lalu melarikan diri—walaupun Yudhiṣṭhira terus melaungkan panggilan kepada mereka.

Word by Word

पीड्यमानाःbeing afflicted/tormented

तुbut/indeed

शल्येनby Shalya

पाण्डवाःthe Pandavas (Pandava warriors)

भृश-विक्षताःseverely wounded

प्राद्रवन्ran away/fled

रणम्the battle

हित्वाhaving abandoned

क्रोशमानेwhile (he was) crying out/calling

युधिष्ठिरेwhen/while Yudhishthira (was calling)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śalya

Yudhiṣṭhira

Pāṇḍavas (Pāṇḍava army)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: physical suffering and terror can overwhelm discipline, and a righteous leader’s duty includes sustaining morale and preventing panic-driven collapse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya’s assault leaves the Pāṇḍava troops badly wounded; despite Yudhiṣṭhira’s loud calls to hold their ground, many abandon the fight and flee the battlefield.