Shloka 18

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

तत्पश्चात्‌ महामना मद्रराज शल्यने सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी बाणसे अत्यन्त वेगवान्‌ और भयंकर बलशाली वीर युधिष्ठिरकी छातीमें चोट पहुँचायी ।।

Transliteration

tatpaścāt mahāmanā madrarājaḥ śalyas tu sūryāgnisama-tejasā bāṇena atyanta-vegavān bhīma-balaḥ vīraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram urasi samāhatya | tato ’tividdho ’tha yudhiṣṭhiro ’pi su-samprayuktena śareṇa rājan | jaghāna madrādhipatiṃ mahātmā mūrdhni ca lebhe ṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇām ||

Translation

Sau đó, vua xứ Madra là Śalya—bậc đại tâm, rực sáng như mặt trời và lửa—đã bắn một mũi tên cực nhanh, ghê gớm và đầy uy lực, trúng ngay ngực dũng sĩ Yudhiṣṭhira. Dẫu bị xuyên thấu nặng nề, Yudhiṣṭhira, “con bò mộng của dòng Kuru”, vẫn đáp trả bằng một phát tên nhắm chuẩn, đánh trúng chúa Madra khiến ông choáng váng ngã quỵ.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अतिविद्धः: pierced severely
• अतिविद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• सुसम्प्रयुक्तेन: well-directed, well-shot
• सुसम्प्रयुक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसम्प्रयुक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शरेण: with an arrow
• शरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• जघान: struck, smote
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मद्राधिपतिम्: the lord of Madra (Śalya)
• मद्राधिपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्राधिपति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• लेभे: obtained, attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Ātmanepada

• ऋषभः: the bull, the best
• ऋषभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुरूणाम्: of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śalya
• Madra (kingdom)
• Kuru (dynasty)
• arrow (bāṇa/śara)
• sun (sūrya)
• fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when wounded, a ruler committed to kṣatriya-dharma must remain steady, act with discipline rather than panic, and respond with controlled skill. The verse frames valor not as rage but as steadfast endurance and competent action amid suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya strikes Yudhiṣṭhira hard in the chest with a blazing, fast arrow. Despite being badly pierced, Yudhiṣṭhira retaliates with a well-shot arrow and hits Śalya, leaving him stunned/overpowered in that exchange.