Shloka 15

Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

तत: पौरुषमास्थाय मद्रराजमताडयत्‌ | जयो वास्तु वधो वास्तु कृतबुद्धिर्महारथ:

Transliteration

tataḥ pauruṣam āsthāya madrarājam atāḍayat | jayo vāstu vadho vāstu kṛtabuddhir mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说：于是他凭借自身的雄毅与奋发，开始向摩陀罗王猛击。那位大车战士已将心志钉在一个结局上：今日要么得胜，要么赴死。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• पौरुषम्: manly effort, valor
• पौरुषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having resorted to / taking up
• आस्थाय: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस्था (धातु: स्था) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्यय), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मद्रराजम्: the king of Madra
• मद्रराजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अताडयत्: struck, attacked
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• जयः: victory
• जयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वास्तु: may it be (so)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वास्तु (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (आशीर्लिङर्थे: 'let it be')

• वधः: death, slaying
• वधः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वास्तु: may it be (so)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वास्तु (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (आशीर्लिङर्थे: 'let it be')

• कृतबुद्धिः: one who has made up his mind, resolute
• कृतबुद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Madrarāja (Śalya)
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast resolve in the performance of one’s appointed duty: a warrior, having chosen his course, accepts either victory or death without wavering. Ethically, it portrays commitment to dharma-as-duty in a crisis, where hesitation can endanger others and undermine responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, summoning his valor, begins a direct assault on the king of Madra, Śalya. Yudhiṣṭhira has made up his mind that the day will end in one of two outcomes—his victory or his death—signaling an intensified phase of the duel.