Shloka 39
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
समुदितबलवाहना: पुनः पुरुषवरेण जिता: स्थ गोग्रहे । सगुरुगुरुसुता: सभीष्मका: किमु न जितः स तदा त्वयार्जुन:
samuditabalavāhanāḥ punaḥ puruṣavareṇa jitāḥ stha gograhe | sagurugurusutāḥ sabhīṣmakāḥ kimu na jitaḥ sa tadā tvayārjunaḥ ||
ଶଲ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ବିରାଟନଗରରେ ଗୋହରଣ ସମୟରେ, ବିଶାଳ ସେନା ଓ ରଥବାହନ ସହିତ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତୁମେ ସମସ୍ତେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ସେ ପୁରୁଷଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପରାଜିତ ହୋଇଥିଲ। ତୁମ ସହ ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ, ତାଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମା ଓ ଭୀଷ୍ମ ପରି ଗୁରୁଜନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲେ; ତେବେ ସେତେବେଳେ ତୁମେ ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କୁ କାହିଁକି ଜିତିପାରିଲ ନାହିଁ?
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya’s challenge underscores an ethical standard in warrior culture: claims of superiority must be grounded in demonstrated capability. Remembering past outcomes restrains arrogance and exposes self-deception, especially when pride can lead to reckless decisions in war.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, deliberately undermines Karṇa’s confidence by recalling the earlier Virāṭa cattle-raid, where Arjuna defeated the Kaurava side even when senior warriors like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Aśvatthāmā were present. He uses this precedent to question how Karṇa expects to defeat Arjuna now.