Mahabharata 9.13.21 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 21
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
भीमसेनो<5थ नाराचं ज्वलन्तमिव पन्नगम्
sañjaya uvāca | bhīmaseno 'tha nārācaṃ jvalantam iva pannagam prāhiṇot | nakulaḥ saṅgrāmabhūmau śalyapar śaktiṃ mumoca | sahadevaḥ sundarāṃ gadāṃ prāhiṇot | dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraś ca raṇakṣetre śalyaṃ hantum icchan śataghnīprahāraṃ cakāra |
ਸੰਜਯ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: ਤਦ ਭੀਮਸੇਨ ਨੇ ਅੱਗ ਦੇ ਸੱਪ ਵਾਂਗ ਦਹਕਦਾ ਨਾਰਾਚ ਛੱਡਿਆ। ਨਕੁਲ ਨੇ ਰਣਭੂਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਸੁੱਟੀ। ਸਹਦੇਵ ਨੇ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਗਦਾ ਚਲਾਈ। ਅਤੇ ਧਰਮਰਾਜ ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਦੇਣ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਨਾਲ ਰਣਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ਤਘਨੀ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਹਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is framed as duty and purpose: the Pandavas act with coordinated resolve to neutralize a dangerous adversary. The verse highlights intention (to end Shalya’s threat) and disciplined execution, underscoring the Mahabharata’s recurring tension between necessary violence and ethical responsibility.
Sanjaya reports a sequence of attacks on Shalya: Bhima shoots a fierce nārāca likened to a blazing serpent; Nakula hurls a śakti; Sahadeva sends a mace; and Yudhishthira strikes with a śataghnī, aiming to kill Shalya on the battlefield.
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