Shloka 7
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
ततो दुर्योधन: स्थित्वा रथे रथवरोत्तमम् । सर्वयुद्धविभावज्ञमन्तकप्रतिमं युधि
tato duryodhanaḥ sthitvā rathe rathavarottamam | sarvayuddhavibhāvajñam antakapratimaṃ yudhi | tam abhyetya ātmajastubhyaṃ aśvatthāmānam abravīt ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Pagkatapos, si Duryodhana, na nakatindig sa kanyang napakahusay na karwaheng pandigma, ay lumapit kay Aśvatthāmā—na batid ang bawat anyo at likaw ng digmaan at sa labanan ay kasindak-sindak na parang Kamatayan. Paglapit sa kanya, ang iyong anak ay nagsalita kay Aśvatthāmā nang ganito.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, amid war, leaders seek security through the most formidable warriors; it implicitly raises an ethical tension: admiration for destructive prowess can eclipse reflection on dharma, making alliance and power appear more urgent than moral restraint.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana mounts his excellent chariot, goes to Aśvatthāmā—renowned for mastery of warfare and terrifying in combat—and begins to speak to him, setting up a request or counsel involving Aśvatthāmā’s participation.