Shloka 13
Śalya Installed as Commander; Coalition Agreement and Battle Arrays (शल्यसेनापत्यारोहणं व्यूहवर्णनं च)
शल्य उवाच अद्य चाहं रणे सर्वान् पज्चालान् सह पाण्डवै:,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”
śalya uvāca: adya cāhaṃ raṇe sarvān pāñcālān saha pāṇḍavaiḥ, iti satyaṃ bravīmy eṣa duryodhana na saṃśayaḥ.
Sabi ni Śalya: “Ngayong araw, sa digmaan, tatalunin ko ang lahat ng Panchala kasama ang mga Pandava. Ito ang ipinahahayag kong katotohanan, O Duryodhana—walang pag-aalinlangan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how confident vows and assurances in war can strengthen a leader’s resolve, yet in the Mahabharata’s moral frame such declarations also reveal the peril of pride and misplaced loyalty when aligned with an adharma-driven campaign.
Śalya addresses Duryodhana and promises that on that day he will defeat the Panchalas along with the Pandavas, asserting that he speaks the truth and that there is no doubt about it.