Shloka 18
Śalya’s Consecration as Senāpati and Kṛṣṇa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira (शल्यस्य सेनापत्यभिषेकः)
गुरुपुत्रो5द्य सर्वेषामस्माकं परमा गति: । भवांस्तस्मान्नियोगात्ते को<स्तु सेनापतिर्मम
sañjaya uvāca | guruputro 'dya sarveṣām asmākaṁ paramā gatiḥ | bhavāṁs tasmān niyogāt te ko 'stu senāpatir mama ||
三阇耶说道：“噢，我们师长之子！今日你是我们众人至高的依怙。因此，我愿依你的指示，任命一位统帅。请告诉我——如今谁当为我的大将，置于阵前，使我们同心合力投入战斗，并战胜般度族？”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis of war, authority and responsibility must be clearly vested: the king seeks a legitimate appointment of leadership under respected guidance, emphasizing disciplined command rather than impulsive action.
Sañjaya reports a moment where the Kaurava side, needing direction, addresses the preceptor’s son as their chief support and asks him to indicate who should be appointed commander-in-chief to lead them against the Pāṇḍavas.