Shloka 18
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
गुरुपुत्रो5द्य सर्वेषामस्माकं परमा गति: । भवांस्तस्मान्नियोगात्ते को<स्तु सेनापतिर्मम
sañjaya uvāca | guruputro 'dya sarveṣām asmākaṁ paramā gatiḥ | bhavāṁs tasmān niyogāt te ko 'stu senāpatir mama ||
सञ्जय उवाच— गुरुपुत्र! अद्य त्वमेवास्माकं सर्वेषां परमा गतिः। तस्मात् तव नियोगेनाहं सेनापतिं नियुक्तुमिच्छामि। ब्रूहि— कः स्यात् मम सेनापतिः, यं पुरस्कृत्य वयं सर्वे समवेताः संग्रामे पाण्डवान् जेष्यामः?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis of war, authority and responsibility must be clearly vested: the king seeks a legitimate appointment of leadership under respected guidance, emphasizing disciplined command rather than impulsive action.
Sañjaya reports a moment where the Kaurava side, needing direction, addresses the preceptor’s son as their chief support and asks him to indicate who should be appointed commander-in-chief to lead them against the Pāṇḍavas.