Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 32
Śalya–Bhīma Gadā-saṃnipāta and Śalya’s Bāṇa-jāla against Yudhiṣṭhira
Book 9, Chapter 11
स निर्भिद्य महात्मानं वेगेनाभ्यपतच्च गाम् । उस समय शल्यने युधिष्ठिरपर विषैले सर्पके समान एक भयंकर बाणका प्रहार किया। वह बाण बड़े वेगसे महात्मा युधिष्ठिरको घायल करके पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा ।।
sa nirbhidya mahātmānaṁ vegenābhyapatac ca gām | tato vṛkodaraḥ kruddhaḥ śalyaṁ vivyādha saptabhiḥ |
Sañjaya nói: Mũi tên ấy lao đi với tốc lực lớn, đâm xuyên bậc đại hồn Yudhiṣṭhira rồi rơi xuống đất. Thấy vậy, Bhīma (Vṛkodara) bừng bừng phẫn nộ, bắn bảy mũi tên xuyên Śalya. Kế đó Sahadeva bắn năm, Nakula bắn mười, và các con của Draupadī bắn vô số mũi tên, làm vị dũng tướng diệt địch Śalya bị thương nặng.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare amplifies cycles of harm: a grievous strike immediately triggers counter-strikes. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya valor (swift retaliation in battle) and the tragic cost of violence that spreads through reaction.
Śalya’s fast, piercing attack wounds the great-souled Yudhiṣṭhira and the projectile falls to the ground. Witnessing Yudhiṣṭhira’s injury, Bhīma becomes enraged and shoots Śalya with seven arrows in immediate retaliation.
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