Shloka 21
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
एन॑ सेनापतिं कृत्वा नृपतिं नृपसत्तम | शक्य: प्राप्तुं जयो<स्माभिदेंवै: स्कन््दमिवाजितम्
sañjaya uvāca |
enaṁ senāpatiṁ kṛtvā nṛpatiṁ nṛpasattama |
śakyaḥ prāptuṁ jayo ’smābhir devaiḥ skandam ivājitam ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi bậc vương giả tối thượng, nếu ta lập vị vua này làm Tổng chỉ huy, ta cũng có thể đạt thắng lợi—như chư thiên đã tôn Skanda, đấng bất khả chiến bại, làm tướng soái và nhờ đó mà chiến thắng.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical importance of capable leadership in war: appointing a strong, respected commander can unify forces, raise morale, and make victory attainable—illustrated through the divine precedent of the gods choosing Skanda.
Sañjaya addresses the king and argues that by appointing this king (in context, Śalya) as the army’s commander, their side can achieve victory, comparing the plan to how the gods won after making Skanda their general.