Shloka 40
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
निरीक्षितो5सौ नरदेव राज्ञा पूतात्मना निर्हटकल्मषेण । आसीजन्न यद् भस्मसान्मद्रराज- स्तदद्भुतं मे प्रतिभाति राजन्
nirīkṣito ’sau naradeva rājñā pūtātmanā nirhaṭa-kalmaṣeṇa | āsījan na yad bhasmasān madra-rājas tad adbhutaṃ me pratibhāti rājan ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਆਤਮਾ ਅਤੇ ਕਲੰਕ ਰਹਿਤ ਰਾਜਾ ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਉਂ ਨਿਹਾਰਿਆ ਜਾਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਮਦ੍ਰਰਾਜ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਭਸਮ ਹੋਇਆ, ਨਾ ਹੀ ਰਾਖ ਉੱਤੇ ਬੈਠਿਆ—ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਅਦਭੁਤ ਲੱਗਦੀ ਹੈ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid the moral turbulence of war, inner purity and disciplined restraint can still govern a ruler’s conduct. The ‘wonder’ is that a person deemed purified and closely scrutinized does not perform an act associated with defilement or despair (sitting on ashes), implying ethical self-control and dignity under pressure.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the Madra ruler, though observed by a pure-minded king free of taint, did not sit upon the ashes; Sañjaya finds this unexpected and remarkable. The line functions as a narrative aside emphasizing the surprising nature of the Madra ruler’s behavior.