शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
अयोधयन्त विजयं द्रोणपुत्रपुरस्कृता: । राजन्! आपके पुत्रसे प्रेरित हो तीन हजार योद्धा अश्वत्थामाको अगुआ बनाकर अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध करने लगे
ayodhayanta vijayaṁ droṇaputra-puraskṛtāḥ | rājan tava putreṇa preritāḥ trayaḥ-sahasrā yodhāḥ aśvatthāmānam agrataḥ kṛtvā arjunena saha yuddham akurvan |
सञ्जय उवाच—राजन्, तव पुत्रेण प्रेरिताः त्रिसहस्रं योधाः द्रोणपुत्रं पुरस्कृत्य, विजयम् अयोधयन्तः, अर्जुनेन सह समरं समारभन्त।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights ethical responsibility in war: those who incite and command others toward violence bear moral weight for the conflict, and leadership amplifies the consequences of ambition and anger.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that, at Duryodhana’s urging, three thousand warriors advanced with Ashvatthama (Drona’s son) in the lead and fought against Arjuna, seeking victory.