Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
पाण्डवान् सरथान् दृष्टवा धृष्टद्ुम्नं च पार्षतम्
pāṇḍavān sarathān dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca pārṣatam
सञ्जय उवाच—सरथान् पाण्डवान् दृष्ट्वा धृष्टद्युम्नं च पार्षतम्। परस्परं प्रतिपक्षनायकान् समवेक्ष्य, युद्धस्य त्वरितो धर्मार्थसंघर्षः समभवत्—यत्र कर्तव्यं च नीतिश्च अनिवार्यहिंसायां समापततः।
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical weight of recognition in war: seeing the opposing side’s principal warriors (the Pāṇḍavas and their commander Dhṛṣṭadyumna) forces a confrontation with kṣatriya-dharma—duty, resolve, and accountability for violence undertaken in the name of justice and allegiance.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment: the Pāṇḍava warriors are seen in their chariots, along with Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Drupada’s son), indicating their organized readiness and leadership presence as the conflict in the Śalya Parva intensifies.