Shloka 126
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
हर्ष प्राप तदा वीरो दुरापमकृतात्मभि: । उनके द्वारा इस प्रकार प्रशंसित होनेपर बलवान वीर मद्रराज शल्यको वह हर्ष प्राप्त हुआ जो अकृतात्मा (युद्धकी शिक्षासे रहित) पुरुषोंके लिये दुर्लभ है
harṣaṁ prāpa tadā vīro durāpam akṛtātmabhiḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—तदा स वीरः प्रशंसितः स्वजनैः, अकृतात्मभिर्दुरापं हर्षं प्राप; मद्रराजः शल्योऽपि तेन हर्षेण समभ्यवर्धत।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts outward success with inner qualification: true, elevated joy (harṣa) is portrayed as difficult for the undisciplined (akṛtātman) to attain. It implies that self-mastery and proper formation make one capable of receiving honor without being merely intoxicated by it.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, the powerful king of Madra, is praised by his men; upon receiving that praise, he experiences a rare exhilaration—an emotional uplift framed as uncommon for those lacking inner discipline.