Shloka 9
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
तत्र पश्याम्यहं कर्म शल्यस्यातिमहद्रणे । यदेक: सर्वसैन्यानि पाण्डवानामयोधयत्,वहाँ रणभूमिमें मैंने राजा शल्यका बहुत बड़ा पराक्रम यह देखा कि वे अकेले ही पाण्डवोंकी सम्पूर्ण सेनाओंके साथ युद्ध कर रहे थे
tatra paśyāmy ahaṃ karma śalyasyātimahad raṇe | yad ekaḥ sarvasainyāni pāṇḍavānām ayodhayat ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Di medan perang itu, aku menyaksikan keperwiraan Śalya yang amat besar—bagaimana dia, seorang diri, bertempur melawan seluruh angkatan Pāṇḍava.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of extraordinary courage and steadfastness in battle, while implicitly reminding the reader that even celebrated heroism unfolds within a devastating war whose ethical burden cannot be ignored.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he ‘sees’ on the battlefield: King Śalya displays remarkable prowess by fighting single-handedly against the combined forces of the Pāṇḍavas.