Shloka 68

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

विधिवत्‌ कल्पितं शुभ्र॑ महाम्बुदनिनादिनम्‌ । सज्जयन्त्रोपकरणं द्विषतां लोमहर्षणम्‌

Transliteration

vidhivat kalpitaṁ śubhraṁ mahāmbuda-ninādinam | sajja-yantropakaraṇaṁ dviṣatāṁ lomaharṣaṇam ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Rồi vua xứ Madra, Śalya, mỉm cười và bước lên một chiến xa khác. Chiến xa ấy trắng sáng, được chuẩn bị đúng nghi thức; tiếng lăn vang trầm như mây lớn, được trang bị đầy đủ cơ cấu và dụng cụ cần thiết, và đủ sức khiến quân thù dựng tóc gáy.

Word by Word

• विधिवत्: according to rule; duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• कल्पितम्: prepared; arranged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पित
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• शुभ्रम्: bright; splendid; white
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• महाम्बुद-निनादिनम्: thundering like a great cloud
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाम्बुदनिनादिन्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• सज्ज-यन्त्र-उपकरणम्: having equipment and mechanisms made ready
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्जयन्त्रोपकरण
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• द्विषताम्: of enemies
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• लोम-हर्षणम्: causing horripilation; hair-raising
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोमहर्षण
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śalya
• Madrarāja (king of Madra)
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, action is portrayed as structured and rule-bound (vidhivat): power is not merely brute force but disciplined preparation, and the ethical tension lies in how such ordered readiness can still be used to inspire fear and destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Śalya smiling as he mounts another chariot; the chariot is splendid, properly outfitted, thunderous like a storm-cloud, and intimidating to enemies—signaling a renewed, formidable entry into the battle scene.