Shloka 346
अयोधयन् धर्मराजं मद्रराजपुरस्कृता: । तत्पश्चात् कृपाचार्य, कृतवर्मा और महारथी शकुनि मद्रराज शल्यको आगे करके धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरसे युद्ध करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | ayodhayann dharmarājaṃ madrarāja-puraskṛtāḥ | tataḥ paścāt kṛpācāryaḥ kṛtavarmā ca mahārathī śakuniḥ madrarājaṃ śalyam agre kṛtvā dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram yoddhuṃ pracakramuḥ |
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Inilagay nila sa unahan ang hari ng Madra at hinarap si Dharmarāja sa labanan. Pagkaraan, si Kṛpa na guro, si Kṛtavarmā, at ang dakilang mandirigmang-karwahe na si Śakuni—na itinutulak sa unahan ang haring Madra na si Śalya—ay sabay-sabay na sumalakay kay Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira upang makipagdigma. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito na sa kaguluhan ng digmaan, maging ang iginagalang na matatanda at bantog na mandirigma ay nagkakaisa sa likod ng piniling pinuno upang maglunsad ng nakatuong pag-atake laban sa mismong sagisag ng dharma.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the moral tension of war: even those associated with learning and seniority (like Kṛpa) participate in violent conflict under political allegiance. It also emphasizes how leadership and formation (placing Śalya in front) shape the ethical and strategic dynamics of battle against Dharmarāja, the figure identified with righteousness.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava-side warriors—Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Śakuni—advance to fight Yudhiṣṭhira. They do so with Śalya, king of Madra, positioned as the foremost leader of their assault.