Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 29
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तै: सायकैर्मोहितं वीक्ष्य शल्यं भीम: शरैरस्य चकर्त वर्म | स भीमसेनेन निकृत्तवर्मा मद्राधिपश्चर्म सहस्रतारम्
taiḥ sāyakair mohitaṃ vīkṣya śalyaṃ bhīmaḥ śarair asya cakarta varma | sa bhīmasenena nikṛttavarmā madrādhipaś carma sahasratāraṃ khaḍgaṃ ca gṛhītvā rathāt praskandya kuntīputraṃ prati dudrāva |
Disse Sañjaya: Vendo Śalya aturdido por aquelas flechas, Bhīma, com seus dardos, cortou-lhe a armadura. Quando Bhīmasena lhe havia talhado o arnês, Śalya —senhor de Madra, terrível em força e de ânimo elevado— tomou um escudo marcado por mil rebites e uma espada, saltou do carro e arremeteu contra o filho de Kuntī.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness in battle: when one layer of protection (armour, chariot-advantage) is destroyed, the warrior does not abandon duty but adapts—taking up shield and sword and engaging directly. It also illustrates how ‘mohā’ (battlefield bewilderment) can be induced by skillful attack, yet resolve can reassert itself through disciplined courage.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma’s arrows stun Śalya and then cut through his armour. Stripped of armour, Śalya—king of Madra—grabs an ornate shield and a sword, leaps down from his chariot, and charges toward the son of Kuntī (contextually the Pāṇḍava leader).