Shloka 22

Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)

Devanagari script

तथोक्ते द्रोणपुत्रेण सर्व एव नराधिपा: । परिवार्य स्थिता: शल्यं जयशब्दांश्न॒ चक्रिरे

Transliteration

tathokte droṇaputreṇa sarva eva narādhipāḥ | parivārya sthitāḥ śalyaṃ jayaśabdāṃś ca cakrire ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ— “ଦ୍ରୋଣପୁତ୍ର ଏପରି କହିବା ସହିତ ସମସ୍ତ ନରାଧିପ ଶଲ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଘେରି ତାଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ହେଲେ ଏବଂ ‘ଜୟ’ ଧ୍ୱନି କଲେ।”

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उक्ते: when (it was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, locative, singular

• द्रोणपुत्रेण: by Drona's son (Ashvatthaman)
• द्रोणपुत्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोणपुत्र
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• नराधिपाः: kings
• नराधिपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधिप
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृ
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• स्थिताः: stood/remained
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: क्त (past active/resultative participle), masculine, nominative, plural

• शल्यं: Shalya
• शल्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• जयशब्दान्: cries of victory
• जयशब्दान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयशब्द
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चक्रिरे: they made/raised (uttered)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, 3rd, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇaputra (Aśvatthāmā)
• Śalya
• narādhipāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how collective morale and public affirmation of leadership become crucial in crisis: warriors reinforce unity by rallying around the commander and voicing victory, even when the ethical weight and uncertainty of battle remain.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son) speaks, the assembled kings move to Śalya, surround him in support, and raise victory shouts—signaling acceptance of his leadership and an attempt to strengthen their fighting spirit.