Mahabharata 9.17.10 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 17, Shloka 10

Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)

Devanagari script

संरक्षितो भीमसेनेन राजा माद्रीसुता भ्यामथ माधवेन । मद्राधिपं पत्रिभिरुग्रवेगै: स्तनान्तरे धर्मसुतो निजघ्ने

Transliteration

saṁrakṣito bhīmasenena rājā mādrīsutābhyām atha mādhavena | madrādhipaṁ patribhir ugravegaiḥ stanāntare dharmasuto nijaghne ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：达摩之子尤提施提罗王在毗摩塞那、摩德丽二子（那俱罗与娑诃提婆）以及摩陀婆之盟友萨底耶迦的护卫下，以迅猛如雷的利箭射中摩陀罗之主沙利耶的胸膛。

Word by Word

• saṃrakṣitaḥ: protected/guarded
• saṃrakṣitaḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrakṣita (√rakṣ, kta)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• bhīmasenena: by Bhīmasena
• bhīmasenena: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīmasena
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mādrīsutābhyām: by Mādrī’s two sons (Nakula and Sahadeva)
• mādrīsutābhyām: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādrī-suta
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• atha: then/and then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha

• mādhavena: by Mādhava (here: Sātyaki/Kṛṣṇa epithet; context favors Sātyaki)
• mādhavena: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• madrādhipam: the lord of Madra (Śalya)
• madrādhipam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: madra-adhipa
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• patribhiḥ: with arrows (lit. feathered ones)
• patribhiḥ: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: patrin
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• ugravegaiḥ: of fierce speed
• ugravegaiḥ: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra-vega
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• stanāntare: in the space between the breasts (on the chest)
• stanāntare: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana-antara
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• dharmasutaḥ: Dharma’s son (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• dharmasutaḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-suta
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nijaghne: struck/slew
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmasuta, Dharmaputra)
• Bhīmasena
• Nakula
• Sahadeva
• Mādhava (epithet associated with Kṛṣṇa; indicating Kṛṣṇa’s side/ally)
• Sātyaki
• Śalya (Madrādhipa, king of Madra)
• Madra (kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a dharma-minded ruler must sometimes act decisively in war when duty demands it. The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: facing danger openly, relying on righteous allies, and using legitimate means in battle to neutralize a grave threat.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, protected by Bhīma, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Kṛṣṇa’s ally Sātyaki, shoots Śalya—the king of Madra—in the chest with swift, powerful arrows during the Kurukṣetra battle.