Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 30
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
तान् प्रेक्ष्य सहितान् सर्वान् जवेनोद्यतकार्मुकान् । सौबलोअभ्यद्रवद् युद्धे पाण्डवानाततायिन:
tān prekṣya sahitān sarvān javena udyata-kārmukān | saubalo 'bhyadravad yuddhe pāṇḍavān ātatāyinaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nang makita niyang magkakasama silang lahat, rumaragasa nang mabilis at nakataas ang mga busog, si Saubala (Śakuni), sa gitna ng labanan, ay sumugod patungo sa mga Pāṇḍava—na dito’y tinawag na mga mananalakay—sa larangan ng digmaan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral framing operates in war-narrative: the opposing side is labeled ātatāyin (“aggressor”), showing how ethical judgment and propaganda-like characterization accompany battlefield action, even as combat proceeds under kṣatriya norms.
Sañjaya reports that Śakuni (Saubala), seeing the Pāṇḍava forces advancing together with raised bows, rushes forward to engage them in battle.