Shloka 39
Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
समुदितबलवाहना: पुनः पुरुषवरेण जिता: स्थ गोग्रहे । सगुरुगुरुसुता: सभीष्मका: किमु न जितः स तदा त्वयार्जुन:,विराटनगरमें गोहरणके समय पुरुषश्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने विशाल बल-वाहनसे सम्पन्न तुम सब लोगोंको द्रोणाचार्य, अश्वत्थामा और भीष्मके सहित परास्त कर दिया था। उस समय तुमने अर्जुनको क्यों नहीं जीत लिया?
samuditabalavāhanāḥ punaḥ puruṣavareṇa jitāḥ stha gograhe | sagurugurusutāḥ sabhīṣmakāḥ kimu na jitaḥ sa tadā tvayārjunaḥ ||
Śalya disse: “No tempo da incursão do gado na cidade de Virāṭa, vós—embora munidos de grande hoste de tropas e carros—fostes novamente derrotados por aquele melhor dos homens, Arjuna. Mesmo com os vossos anciãos e mestres entre vós—Droṇa, seu filho Aśvatthāmā e Bhīṣma—por que não vencestes Arjuna então? Se não pudestes superá-lo naquele encontro anterior, com que fundamento agora vos jactais de vitória?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya’s challenge underscores an ethical standard in warrior culture: claims of superiority must be grounded in demonstrated capability. Remembering past outcomes restrains arrogance and exposes self-deception, especially when pride can lead to reckless decisions in war.
Śalya, serving as Karṇa’s charioteer, deliberately undermines Karṇa’s confidence by recalling the earlier Virāṭa cattle-raid, where Arjuna defeated the Kaurava side even when senior warriors like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Aśvatthāmā were present. He uses this precedent to question how Karṇa expects to defeat Arjuna now.