Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 41
शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command
घटमाना मदर्थेडस्मिन् हता: शूरा जनाधिपा: । शेरते लोहिताक्ताड़्ा: संग्रामे शरविक्षता:
ghaṭamānā madarthe 'smin hatāḥ śūrā janādhipāḥ | śerate lohitāktāṅgāḥ saṅgrāme śaravikṣatāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Demi aku dalam pertempuran ini, ramai raja pahlawan telah berjuang sehabis daya lalu gugur. Tubuh mereka, terkoyak dan hancur oleh anak panah serta diselaputi darah, kini terbaring terbujur di medan perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral weight of kings seeking victory through war: even when warriors act with loyalty and valor, the outcome is bloodshed and death, reminding the listener that triumph is purchased at a grave human cost.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that many heroic rulers, fighting earnestly for his side’s success, have been killed; their arrow-torn, blood-smeared bodies now lie on the battlefield.