Shloka 5
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
न संधातुमनीकानि न च राजन् पराक्रमे । आसीदू् बुद्धि्हते शल्ये भूयो योधस्य कस्यचित्
na sandhātum anīkāni na ca rājan parākrame | āsīd buddhihate śalye bhūyo yodhasya kasyacit ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, tiada seorang pun pahlawan yang pertimbangannya lebih hancur daripada Śalya—baik dalam menyusun formasi mahupun dalam mengerahkan keberanian itu sendiri. Keupayaannya menyelaras bala tentera dan bertindak dengan tujuan ketenteraan yang jelas menjadi suram melebihi sesiapa, memperlihatkan bagaimana kekacauan batin dapat meruntuhkan bahkan kekuatan yang termasyhur di tengah perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that martial strength alone is insufficient: when judgment is impaired, a leader cannot properly organize forces or act effectively. Ethical and practical leadership in war depends on clarity of mind; inner disturbance can nullify prowess and harm one’s side.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra about Śalya’s condition in the battle context, stating that Śalya’s intellect was more disrupted than any other warrior’s, affecting both the arranging of troop-formations and performance of valor.