Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

जैसे क्रोधमें भरे हुए रुद्रदेव पशुओंका संहार करते हैं, उसी प्रकार युधिष्ठिरने इस संग्राममें कुपित हो घुड़सवारों, घोड़ों और पैदलोंके सहस्रों टुकड़े कर डाले ।।

Transliteration

śūnyam āyo dhanam kṛtvā śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ | abhyadravat madreśaṃ tiṣṭha śalye iti cābravīt ||

Translation

如同盛怒的鲁陀罗屠戮群兽一般，愤起的由提施提罗在此战中将骑兵、战马与步卒斩碎成千百段。继而他以箭雨从四面八方扫空战场，直扑摩陀罗之主，并高呼道：“舍利耶！站住——站稳！”

Word by Word

• शून्यम्: empty, void
• शून्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आयोधनम्: battlefield
• आयोधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयोधन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Active, Non-finite

• शरवर्षैः: with showers of arrows
• शरवर्षैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides, all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततस्

• अभ्यद्रवत्: ran towards, charged at
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-द्रु
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Active

• मद्रेशम्: the lord of Madra (Shalya)
• मद्रेशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रेश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तिष्ठ: stand (still)! / stay!
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Active

• शल्य: O Shalya
• शल्य: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular, Active

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śalya
• Madra (kingdom/people, implied by madreśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames battlefield fury as purposeful resolve under kṣatriya-dharma: the leader seeks to confront the principal opponent directly, aiming to curb wider destruction by decisive engagement rather than indiscriminate slaughter.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Yudhiṣṭhira unleashing dense arrow-showers that clear space around him, then charging at Śalya, the king of Madra, and openly challenging him to stand and fight.