Shloka 12
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
एवं सम्पूज्यमानस्तु मद्राणामधिपो बली,इति सत्य ब्रवीम्येष दुर्योधन न संशय: । “मैं रणभूमिमें कुन्तीके सभी पुत्रों और सामने आये हुए सोमकोंपर भी विजय प्राप्त कर लूँगा। इसमें भी संदेह नहीं कि मैं तुम्हारा सेनापति होऊँगा और ऐसे व्यूहका निर्माण करूँगा, जिसे शत्रु लाँघ नहीं सकेंगे। दुर्योधन! यह मैं तुमसे सच्ची बात कहता हूँ। इसमें कोई संशय नहीं है”
evaṁ sampūjyamānas tu madrāṇām adhipo balī | iti satyaṁ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṁśayaḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Sa gayon, matapos parangalan nang nararapat, ang makapangyarihang pinuno ng Madra ay nagsabi kay Duryodhana: ‘Ito ang katotohanang sinasabi ko—walang pag-aalinlangan. Sa larangan ng digmaan, magwawagi ako maging laban sa lahat ng anak ni Kuntī at sa mga Somaka na nakaharap sa akin. Walang duda, ako ang magiging punong-kumandante mo, at bubuo ako ng isang ayos ng hukbo na hindi malalampasan ng kaaway.’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the rhetoric of certainty in war: a leader publicly asserts ‘truth’ and ‘no doubt’ to strengthen morale and legitimacy. Ethically, it shows how claims of satya can be used to inspire confidence, even when the larger conflict is driven by ambition and rivalry.
Sañjaya reports that the powerful ruler of Madra, after being honoured, speaks to Duryodhana with firm assurance: he will defeat Kuntī’s sons and the Somakas, act as Duryodhana’s commander, and devise an unbreakable battle formation.