Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 623

Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira

Book 9, Chapter 11

Devanagari script

गदाम॒श्रित्य धर्मात्मा प्रत्यमित्रमवैक्षत । अपने प्रहारका भरपूर उत्तर प्राप्त हुआ देख धर्मात्मा शल्यका चित्त आश्वर्यसे चकित हो उठा। वे गदा हाथमें लेकर अपने शत्रुकी ओर देखने लगे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | gadām āśritya dharmātmā pratyamitrām avaikṣata |

Translation

ਗਦਾ ਨੂੰ ਫੜ ਕੇ ਧਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਸ਼ਤਰੂ ਵੱਲ ਤੱਕਣ ਲੱਗਾ। ਆਪਣੇ ਪ੍ਰਹਾਰ ਦਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਜਵਾਬ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਦਾ ਚਿੱਤ ਅਚੰਭੇ ਨਾਲ ਠਠੰਭ ਗਿਆ। ਗਦਾ ਹੱਥ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਸ਼ਤਰੂ ਉੱਤੇ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਟਿਕਾਏ ਰਿਹਾ।

Word by Word

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आश्रित्य: having taken up / resorting to
• आश्रित्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous-souled one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रति: towards / against
• प्रति: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• अमित्रम्: enemy
• अमित्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवैक्षत: looked at / beheld
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śalya
• gadā (mace)
• pratyamitra (opposing enemy)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, the epic frames warriors through the lens of dharma: a ‘dharmātmā’ is expected to act with steadiness and ethical awareness. The moment highlights disciplined attention—recognizing a justly met counterstroke without losing composure.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of battle, Śalya—described as dharmātmā—grips his mace and looks toward his adversary. He is astonished because he sees that his own strike has been fully answered by a powerful counterblow, prompting a stunned, focused appraisal of the enemy.