Shloka 90
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तस्मिन् महेष्वासवरे विशस्ते संग्राममध्ये कुरुपुड्रवेन । पार्था: समेता: परमप्रहृष्टा: शड्खान् प्रदध्मुर्ठतमीक्ष्य शल्यम्
tasmin maheṣvāsavare viśaste saṅgrāmamadhye kurupuṅgavena | pārthāḥ sametāḥ paramaprahṛṣṭāḥ śaṅkhān pradadhmur hatam īkṣya śalyam ||
Sañjaya disse: Quando Śalya, o mais eminente entre os grandes arqueiros, foi morto no meio da batalha pelo touro entre os Kurus, os Pārthas, reunidos e tomados de suprema alegria, sopraram suas conchas ao ver Śalya tombado.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical complexity of dharma-yuddha: even when a just cause prevails, the immediate human response can be jubilant at an enemy’s fall. It invites reflection on how duty-driven warfare still carries moral and emotional costs.
In the midst of the Kurukṣetra battle, Śalya—renowned as a great archer—has been killed (contextually by Yudhiṣṭhira). The Pāṇḍavas, gathering together in elation, blow their conches upon seeing Śalya slain.