Shloka 256
Adhyāya 108 — Nimitta-darśana and Drona’s counsel amid Arjuna’s advance (निमित्तदर्शनं द्रोणोपदेशश्च)
अब्रवीद् भरतश्रेष्ठ मद्रराजमिदं वच: । भरतश्रेष्ठ] तब अपनी सेनाको पराजित देख दुर्योधनने दीन होकर मद्रराज शल्यसे इस प्रकार कहा--
sañjaya uvāca |
abravīd bharataśreṣṭha madrarājam idaṃ vacaḥ |
اے بھرت شریشٹھ! اپنی فوج کو شکست کھاتے دیکھ کر دُریودھن عاجز و درماندہ ہو کر مدرراج شلیہ سے یوں بولا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical pressure-point in the Mahābhārata: when power falters, a leader’s true character is revealed. Pride gives way to reliance on counsel and allies, and the moral weight of decisions in war becomes sharper under the experience of defeat.
Sañjaya narrates that Duryodhana, seeing his army being defeated, addresses Śalya, the king of Madra. This line functions as a transition into Duryodhana’s forthcoming speech—an appeal or instruction directed to Śalya amid the crisis of battle.