Shloka 18
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
युधिष्टिरं त्रिभिविद्ध्वा भीमसेनं च पठचभि:
sañjaya uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tribhir viddhvā bhīmasenaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ, mānanīya nareśa! madrarājaḥ śalyas tu raṇāṅgaṇe yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tribhir, bhīmasenaṃ pañcabhiḥ, sātyakiṃ śatena, sahadevaṃ tribhir bāṇair viddhvā mahāmanasvinaḥ nakulasya bāṇasahitaṃ dhanuḥ kṣurapreṇa ciccheda | śalyabāṇacchinnaṃ tad dhanuḥ khaṇḍa-khaṇḍaṃ bhūtvā vikirṇaṃ babhūva |
三阇耶说：尊贵的王啊，摩陀罗之主沙利耶立于战场，以三箭贯穿坚战，以五箭射中怖军；又以百箭击萨底耶迦，以三箭伤萨诃提婆。继而他以剃刀般锋利的箭矢，将那俱罗之弓连同其上所置之箭一并斩断。那弓为沙利耶之矢所截，碎裂成片，四散飞落。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of external supports in conflict: even capable and righteous warriors can suddenly lose weapons and advantage. The ethical pressure-point is steadiness—maintaining resolve and discernment when violence and reversals strike, a key test within kṣatriya-dharma.
Śalya, fighting for the Kauravas, shoots multiple Pāṇḍava-side warriors—Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Sātyaki, and Sahadeva—then uses a razor-headed arrow to sever Nakula’s bow, which breaks apart and scatters.