Mahabharata 9.13.40 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 40
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
पाण्डुके बड़े भाई महाराज धुृतराष्ट्र! तदनन्तर रथ, हाथी और घोड़ोंसहित समस्त पाण्डवयोद्धा मद्रराज शल्यको सब ओरसे पीड़ा देते हुए उनपर चढ़ आये ।।
Sañjaya uvāca: tadanantaraṁ ratha-hasti-aśva-sahitaḥ samastaḥ pāṇḍava-yoddha-gaṇaḥ madrarājaṁ śalyaṁ sarvataḥ pīḍayan tam abhyapatat. nānā-śastraugha-bahulāṁ śastra-vṛṣṭiṁ samudyatām vyadhamat samare rājā mahā-bhrāṇīva mārutaḥ.
Wika ni Sañjaya: “O dakilang Haring Dhṛtarāṣṭra, nakatatandang kapatid ni Pāṇḍu! Pagkaraan, ang lahat ng mandirigmang Pāṇḍava—kasama ang mga karwahe, elepante, at kabayo—ay sumalakay kay Śalya, hari ng Madra, at pinisil siya mula sa lahat ng panig. Sa labanan, winasak ng hari (Śalya) ang umaalimpuyong bagyo ng mga sandata—siksik sa ulang ng sari-saring armas—na parang malakas na hangin na nagpapangalat ng nagkumpol na ulap.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under pressure: even when surrounded and assailed from all sides, a warrior-leader is expected to maintain composure and skill, meeting force with disciplined resistance rather than panic.
All the Pāṇḍava forces—chariots, elephants, and cavalry—surge toward Śalya and harry him from every direction. Śalya responds by dispersing the oncoming ‘rain’ of weapons, compared to a strong wind scattering a bank of clouds.
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