Shloka 48
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
इति सत्य ब्रवीम्येष दुर्योधन न संशय: । “मैं रणभूमिमें कुन्तीके सभी पुत्रों और सामने आये हुए सोमकोंपर भी विजय प्राप्त कर लूँगा। इसमें भी संदेह नहीं कि मैं तुम्हारा सेनापति होऊँगा और ऐसे व्यूहका निर्माण करूँगा, जिसे शत्रु लाँघ नहीं सकेंगे। दुर्योधन! यह मैं तुमसे सच्ची बात कहता हूँ। इसमें कोई संशय नहीं है”
iti satyaṃ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṃśayaḥ |
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संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a speaker frames his assertion as ‘truth’ and removes doubt, revealing the moral complexity of wartime rhetoric: confidence and strategic intent can be presented as सत्य (truth), even when driven by pride or desire for domination—inviting reflection on what constitutes truthful speech aligned with dharma.
Sañjaya reports a declaration addressed to Duryodhana, concluding with a firm assurance—‘I speak the truth; there is no doubt.’ The broader passage (as reflected in the accompanying Hindi) conveys a pledge of victory over Kuntī’s sons and the Sṛñjayas, acceptance of the role of commander, and the promise to construct an unbreachable battle-array.