Mahabharata 9.10.2 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 10, Shloka 2
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! उस सेनाको इस तरह भागती देख प्रतापी मद्रराज शल्यने अपने सारथिसे कहा--'सूत! मेरे महावेगशाली घोड़ोंको शीघ्रतापूर्वक आगे बढ़ाओ ।।
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! tāṃ senām itthaṃ bhāgatīṃ dṛṣṭvā pratāpī madrarājaḥ śalyaḥ svam sārathim uvāca—“sūta! mama mahāvegān aśvān śīghram agre naya. eṣa tiṣṭhati vai rājā pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ, chatreṇa priyamāṇena pāṇḍureṇa virājatā.”
அரசே! அந்தப் படை இவ்வாறு ஓடுவதைக் கண்ட வீரமிகு மத்ரராஜன் சல்யன் சாரதியிடம் கூறினான்—“சூதா! என் மிகவேகக் குதிரைகளை உடனே முன்னே செலுத்து. பார்—அங்கே பாண்டுபுத்திரன் அரசன் யுதிஷ்டிரன் நிற்கிறான்; அவன் தலைமேல் தாங்கப்பட்ட அழகிய வெண்குடை ஒளிர்கிறது.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how royal authority and moral stature are publicly signaled in war: Yudhishthira is identified not only as a target in battle but as a legitimate king marked by the white parasol, a symbol of sovereignty. It also shows decisive leadership—Shalya responds to battlefield momentum by directing immediate action.
As troops are seen fleeing, Shalya, king of Madra, urges his charioteer to drive forward quickly. He points out Yudhishthira standing ahead, distinguished by a beautiful white royal parasol, indicating Yudhishthira’s kingly status and visibility on the battlefield.
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