Shloka 28

शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः

Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel

Devanagari script

तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम मद्रराजस्य पौरुषम्‌ । यदेनं सहिता: पार्था नाभ्यवर्तन्त संयुगे

Transliteration

tatrādbhutam apaśyāma madrarājasya pauruṣam | yad enaṃ sahitāḥ pārthā nābhyavartanta saṃyuge ||

Translation

在那里，我们目睹了摩陀罗王舍利耶令人惊异的雄武：纵使般度五子合力并肩，在战阵的冲撞中也不能压倒他。此景昭示：战争之中，人数并不必然带来胜利；当遭遇卓绝的勇力与技艺时，众多亦未必能胜。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/in that (battle)
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful, marvelous (thing)
• अद्भुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अपश्याम: we saw
• अपश्याम: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 1st, Plural, Parasmaipada

• मद्रराजस्य: of the king of Madra
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• पौरुषम्: manliness, valor
• पौरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: that (the fact that)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सहिता: united, together
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पार्था: the sons of Pritha (the Pandavas)
• पार्था: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अभ्यवर्तन्त: could overcome/defeat, could prevail over
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Atmanepada

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shalya
• Madra
• Pandavas
• Parthas (sons of Pritha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that excellence in courage and martial skill can outweigh numerical advantage; it also reflects the Kṣatriya ideal of steadfast valor in battle, where outcomes depend on more than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that in the great battle Śalya, king of Madra, displayed astonishing prowess—so much so that the Pāṇḍavas, even acting together, could not subdue him in combat.