Shloka 17
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
यं पुरस्कृत्य सहिता युधि जेष्याम पाण्डवान्
yaṁ puraskṛtya sahitā yudhi jeṣyāma pāṇḍavān— “brahman! tvaṁ asmākaṁ guruputro ’si, asmin kāle ca tvam eva asmākaṁ sarvato mahattamaḥ āśrayaḥ. ataḥ ahaṁ tava ājñayā senāpatikā-nirvācanaṁ kartum icchāmi. brūhi— adhunā kaḥ mama senāpatiḥ syāt, yaṁ puraskṛtya vayaṁ sarve sametya yuddhe pāṇḍaveṣu jayaṁ prāpnuyāma?”
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “Sino ang ilalagay namin sa unahan upang, nagkakaisa, mapabagsak namin ang mga Pāṇḍava sa labanan? O Brahmin—yamang ikaw ang anak ng aming guro at sa sandaling ito’y ikaw ang aming pinakamalaking sandigan—nais kong, sa iyong pahintulot, magtalaga ng pinunong-heneral ng hukbo. Sabihin mo ngayon: sino ang dapat maging aking heneral, na kapag inilagay sa unahan ay makakamit naming lahat, bilang iisang hanay, ang tagumpay laban sa mga Pāṇḍava sa digmaan?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, effective action depends on legitimate authority and unified leadership: the speaker seeks consent (ājñā) and a single focal leader (puraskṛtya) so the army acts cohesively rather than as competing factions.
A leader on the Kaurava side consults a respected figure addressed as ‘Brahmin’ and ‘son of the preceptor,’ asking whom to appoint as commander-in-chief so that, with everyone united under that leader, they may defeat the Pandavas.