Shloka 1
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
अप्--_क- द्वात्रिशोड्थध्याय: दुर्योधनकी शल्यसे कर्णका सारथि बननेके लिये प्रार्थना और शल्यका इस विषयमें घोर विरोध करना
sañjaya uvāca | putras tava mahārāja madrarājaṁ mahāratham | vinayenopasaṅgamya praṇayād vākyam abravīt |
三阇耶说道：“大王啊，你的儿子难敌前去拜见摩陀罗之王、强大的车战勇士沙利耶，态度谦恭；并以亲厚劝说之辞，对他说了如下话语。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous-sounding approach marked by humility (vinaya) and affection (praṇaya), the ethical question remains: are these virtues being used sincerely, or as instruments for strategic gain in war? The verse invites reflection on intention (bhāva) behind courteous speech and on the moral limits of persuasion in pursuit of power.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana goes to Śalya, the Madra king and a great warrior, and addresses him respectfully and affectionately. This introduces Duryodhana’s attempt to secure Śalya’s cooperation—contextually, to make him serve as Karṇa’s charioteer—setting up Śalya’s resistance and the ensuing negotiation.