Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 16
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
धृष्टद्युम्न: शिखण्डी च सर्वे चापि प्रभद्रका: । विक्रमं मम पश्यन्तु धनुषश्चन महद् बलम्
dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca sarve cāpi prabhadrakāḥ | vikramaṃ mama paśyantu dhanuṣaś ca mahad balam iti satyaṃ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṃśayaḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—“ଧୃଷ୍ଟଦ୍ୟୁମ୍ନ, ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀ ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରଭଦ୍ରକମାନେ ମୋର ପରାକ୍ରମ ଓ ମୋ ଧନୁଷର ମହାବଳ ଦେଖୁନ୍ତୁ। ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ! ଏହି ସତ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ କହୁଛି; ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the kṣatriya ideal of publicly declaring resolve and courage, while implicitly warning that certainty and martial pride can slide into hubris—an ethical tension repeatedly explored in the Mahābhārata’s war narrative.
Sanjaya reports a warrior’s confident declaration to Duryodhana: he claims that even prominent opponents like Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandin (and their allied Prabhadrakas) will witness his prowess and the power of his bow, and he asserts this as an unquestionable truth.
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