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 |
三阇耶说道：那箭以极猛之势刺穿大心者坚战，随即坠落于地。见此情形，毗摩（狼腹者）怒火炽然，以七箭贯穿舍利耶。继而，萨诃提婆射五箭，纳库罗射十箭，德罗帕蒂之子又以众箭齐发，使那位“摧敌”的勇将舍利耶遍体负伤。
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.