Shloka 16
अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
सम्प्रहृष्टो यदा शल्यो दिदित्सुरपि जीवितम् । गूढो दुर्योधनस्तत्र दर्शयामास मातुलम्
samprahṛṣṭo yadā śalyo diditsur api jīvitam | gūḍho duryodhanas tatra darśayāmāsa mātulam ||
ਜਦੋਂ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਭਰਿਆ ਰਾਜਾ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਉਪਕਾਰ ਦੇ ਬਦਲੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਤੱਕ ਦੇਣ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਰ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ, ਤਦੋਂ ਉੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਲੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਦੁਰਯੋਧਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਾਮੇ ਸ਼ਲ੍ਯ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how powerful virtues like gratitude and loyalty, though ethically admirable, can be leveraged within political conflict; discernment is needed so that noble impulses do not become instruments for adharma.
Śalya, pleased and ready to repay a received favor even at the cost of his life, is approached by Duryodhana, who had been concealed nearby and now comes forward to present himself to his maternal uncle.