DarellBabcock5: refined citations per sources per sources

2026-01-27T17:49:07Z

refined citations per sources per sources

42.110.156.17: /* Karna's charioteer */Removed unnecessary commentary and possible biased remarks

2021-08-11T20:38:52Z

Karna's charioteer: Removed unnecessary commentary and possible biased remarks

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{{short description|Character in the epic Mahabharata}}
{{For|the urban-type settlement in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia|Shalya (urban-type settlement)}}
{{Infobox character
| color = #FFC569
| info-hdr=Information
| image = Shalya becomes commander in chief.jpg
| caption = Shalya is appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army
| weapon = [[Spear]] and [[Gada (mace)|Gada]]
| children = Rukmangada and Rukmaratha
| relatives = [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (nephews), [[Pandu]] (brother in law)
| spouse =
| family = [[Madri]] (younger sister)
}}

In the epic [[Mahabharata]], King shalya ({{lang-sa|शल्य}}, lit. ''pointed weapon'') was the brother of [[Madri]] (mother of [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]), as well as the ruler of the Madra kingdom. Shalya, a powerful Spear and mace fighter and a formidable charioteer, was tricked by [[Duryodhana]] to fight the war on the side of the [[Kauravas]]. Shalya was an incredible calm and deliberate fighter, which is why he made a good [[Ratha|charioteer]] and why he could excel at Spear and mace-fighting despite his slight build.<ref name="Ganguly">{{cite web |last = Ganguly|first =Kisari|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/index.htm}}</ref>

==Becoming Pandu's brother-in-law==

On his way to [[Hastinapur]], [[Pandu|King Pandu]] encountered Shalya's army. At parlay, Shalya and his general met with Pandu; Pandu was very impressed by Shalya's slight general and became friends. [[Bhishma]], head of Pandu's family, came to know about Shalya's beautiful sister, [[Mādrī]] and decided to arrange Pandu's second marriage with Madri. Shalya agreed and was gifted with golds and jewels from [[Hastinapur]].<ref name="Ganguly"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20143/05%20Panchkanya%2025-33%20%202-9.pdf|title=Kunti|access-date=10 January 2013|publisher=Manushi India Organization}}</ref><ref>Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani</ref>

===Attempting to make Nakula and Sahadeva his heirs===

Years after Madri had decided to go for sati, Shalya, each year, for a spell, brought his nephews Nakula and Sahadeva to Madra, and desired to make them his [[heirs]]. On their eighteenth birthday, Shalya revealed his intention to the twins. Shalya argued that Nakula could be a king one day, instead of fourth-in-line to the throne of Hastinapur...provided that [[Yudhishthira]] was named the [[crown prince]] in the first place. The wise Nakula pointed out that Shalya only wanted Nakula and Sahadeva as his heirs, because both were [[Divine filiation|children of God]]-in fact, Shalya was eschewing his own children with this gambit.<ref name="Ganguly">{{cite web |last = Ganguly|first =Kisari|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m08/index.htm}}</ref> Nakula claimed that while he and Sahadeva staying with the Pandavas would give them no power, his brothers and [[Kunti]] genuinely loved him, and would never try to make Nakula and Sahadeva their pawns. Through some deliberation, Nakula is convinced that Shalya is being genuine. He and Sahadeva become the heirs to the throne, but Sahadeva told his uncle on one condition: they will always stay with the Pandavas.<ref>Rajagopalachari, C. (. (1970). Mahabharata (10th ed.). Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan</ref>

==Kurukshetra War==
===Falling prey to Duryodhana's trick===
When Shalya heard of the impending [[Kurukshetra War]], he marched forth with his army to join his nephews. On the way, Shalya was tricked by [[Duryodhana]], who arranged a huge feast for Shalya and his men, entertaining him for hours. Impressed, Shalya is generous with his praise and asks to see [[Yudhishthira]], who Shalya thought was his host. When Duryodhana reveals the treachery, Shalya is astounded but is compelled to grant a boon due to the hospitality. Unable to turn down Duryodhana's request to join the [[Kauravas]], Shalya met the [[Pandavas]] and apologized for his mistake. [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] became enraged, saying that Shalya had truly proven that Nakula and Sahadeva weren't real brothers to the Pandavas, but only [[Stepfamily|step-brothers]]. Yudhishthira quickly stepped in and reprimanded the twins, commanding that they were never to again cheapen their relationship by saying they were "step" brothers. At this point, Shalya realised he had underestimated their brotherly bond. Yudhishthira promised to Shalya that he will kill him in war.

Prior to the start of the war, [[Yudhishthira]] met with his elders on the Kaurava side, asking for their blessings. Shalya readily gave his blessings to Yudhishthira, blessing him with victory.<ref>{{cite book|last=Menon|first=[translated by] Ramesh|title=The Mahabharata : a modern rendering|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse, Inc.|location=New York|isbn=9780595401888}}</ref><ref>Shalya giving boon to Yudhisthira http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06043.htm</ref>

===War with Uttar Kumara===

Though not spirited in his fight, Shalya confronted many great warriors during the war. Shalya killed [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttar Kumara]] on the first day of the war. Shalya killed the boy with his spear after a fantastic duel; Shalya saluted Uttar's brave death.<ref>{{cite book|last=Menon|first=[translated by] Ramesh|title=The Mahabharata : a modern rendering|year=2006|publisher=iUniverse, Inc.|location=New York|isbn=9780595401888|page=151}}</ref>
===Thirteenth day of battle===
On the 13th day, Shalya's sons Rukmangada and Rukmaratha were killed by [[Abhimanyu]].

===Fourteenth day of battle===

On the fourteenth day of battle, Shalya was charged with keeping [[Jayadratha]] away from [[Arjuna]]. Shalya attempted to check Arjuna's advance. Arjuna responded by tying Shalya to his chariot using his arrows, much in the same way Abhimanyu had done the day before.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}

===Karna's charioteer===
[[File:Shalya insulting Karna by telling the story of a swan and crow.jpg|thumb|Shalya insulting Karna by telling the story of a swan and crow.]]

On 17th day of battle, Karna defeats but spares [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]], saying that they are younger and not his equals, therefore not deserving of death by his hands and proceeds to clash with Arjuna(he actually does this as he had promised Kunti that he would not kill any Pandava except Arjuna). Karna-Arjuna duel begins. In the course of the battle, Karna invites Ashwasena snake on his arrow and aims at [[Arjuna]]. Shalya interrupts, telling Karna to aim at Arjuna's chest. Disgusted at Shalya's constant praise of Arjuna, Karna thinks that advice must be inaccurate, and aims at Arjuna's head. [[Krishna]], knowing that Ashwasena is on arrow, pushes Arjuna's chariot into the ground; the arrow only takes off Arjuna's crown instead of his head. At last Arjuna kills Karna with [[Anjalikastra]] and Duryodhana names Shalya as the commander-in-chief.<ref>Meiland, J. (2005). Śalya ; Vol. 1. New York: New York Univ. Press.</ref>

== Death ==

[[File:Yudhistira hits Shalya with arrow of Shakti.jpg|thumb|Yudhishthira kills Shalya with Shakti Spear of Shiva]]

After becoming commander-in-chief, Shalya, now impassioned to fight for the [[Kaurava]] cause. [[Krishna]] suggests that [[Yudhishthira]] should kill the powerful warrior because the eldest Pandava was not a man of aggression and could meet Shalya's calm demeanour, in battle. Shalya is killed by Yudhishthira in spear-combat. After Shalya, Nakula and Sahadeva became the kings of Madra kingdom.<ref>{{cite book|last=Srivastava|first=Vishnulok Bihari|title=Dictionary of Indology|year=2009|publisher=Hindoology Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788122310849}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mahābhārata}}
{{HinduMythology}}

[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]

Shalya - Revision history

DarellBabcock5: refined citations per sources per sources

42.110.156.17: /* Karna's charioteer */Removed unnecessary commentary and possible biased remarks