Shloka 35

Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation

Devanagari script

तस्य धर्मसुतो राजन क्षुरप्रेण महाहवे | चक्ररक्ष॑ं जघानाशु मद्रराजस्य पार्थिव:,राजन! उन महासमरमें धर्मपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरने एक क्षुरप्रद्वारा मद्रराज शल्यके चक्ररक्षकको शीघ्र ही मार डाला

Transliteration

tasya dharmasuto rājan kṣurapreṇa mahāhave | cakrarakṣaṃ jaghānāśu madrarājasya pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: O Hari, sa dakilang labanan, si Dharmasuta Yudhiṣṭhira ay mabilis na tumama—sa pamamagitan ng palasong matalim na parang labaha—at napatay ang tagapangalaga ng gulong ng karwahe ni Śalya, hari ng Madra.

Word by Word

तस्यof him/that (king)

धर्मसुतःDharma's son (Yudhiṣṭhira)

राजन्O king

क्षुरप्रेणwith a razor-edged (arrow/weapon)

महाहवेin the great battle

चक्ररक्षम्the wheel-guard (chariot-guard)

जघानslew/struck down

आशुquickly

मद्रराजस्यof the king of Madra (Śalya)

पार्थिवःthe king (earth-lord)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmasuta)

Śalya (king of Madra)

kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow)

cakrarakṣa (wheel-guard/chariot defender)

chariot wheel (cakra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a ruler devoted to dharma must sometimes employ swift, forceful action when fulfilling kṣatriya-duty in a just war; ethical intent and responsibility remain central even amid violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Yudhiṣṭhira, using a razor-edged arrow, quickly kills Śalya’s cakrarakṣa—the chariot’s wheel-guard—thereby weakening Śalya’s chariot defense in the ongoing battle.