Shloka 66
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
तद् भयं स च न: शोको भय एवाभ्यवर्तत । भारत! प्रजानाथ! भीष्म, द्रोण और सूतपुत्र कर्णके मारे जानेपर आपके योद्धाओंको जो दुःख और भय प्राप्त हुआ था, वही भय और वही शोक पुनः (शल्यके मारे जानेपर) हमारे सामने उपस्थित हुआ,श्रुत्वा तद् वचनं तस्य पूजयित्वा च पार्थिवा:
tad bhayaṁ sa ca naḥ śoko bhaya evābhyavartata | bhārata prajānātha bhīṣma-droṇa-sūtaputra-karṇake māre jane para āpake yoddhāoṁ ko jo duḥkha aura bhaya prāpta huā thā, vahī bhaya aura vahī śoka punaḥ (śalyake māre jane para) hamāre sāmane upasthita huā, śrutvā tad vacanaṁ tasya pūjayitvā ca pārthivāḥ |
तद् भयं स च नः शोको भय एवाभ्यवर्तत । श्रुत्वा तद् वचनं तस्य पूजयित्वा च पार्थिवाः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of martial confidence: when great protectors fall, collective morale collapses into fear and grief. It implicitly warns rulers that power and security are impermanent and that leadership must reckon with the ethical and psychological costs of war.
Sañjaya reports to the Kuru king that, after Śalya’s death, the Kaurava side is overwhelmed by the same dread and sorrow they felt earlier when Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and Karṇa were killed; the surrounding kings then hear a speech and offer due honor.