Shalya Vadha Parva is the seventy fourth Upa parva in the ninth Maha parva named as Shalya Maha parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
What are the various upa parvas of Shalya parva and what are their contents?
Shalya Maha parva has four upa parvas. Shalya vadha parva, Jalapravesha parva, Saraswata parva and Gadayuddha parva are the four upa parvas.
In the Shalya vadha parva, Dushasana vadha by Bhima on the sixteenth day and the Shalya being killed by Yudhishtira on the seventeenth day are described.
Duryodhana’s hiding in water is the content of the Jalapravesha parva. The Saraswata parva is the description of Balarama’s pilgrimage and his timely return to attend the mace war of Bhima and Duryodhana.
In the Gadayuddha parva, Duryodhana vadha by Bhima during the mace fight on the eighteenth day is described.
Thus, there are four upa parvas containing very interesting histories in Shalya parva.
After Shalya parva, what is the next Maha parva?
After Shalya parva, Sauptika parva is the next Maha parva. On the seventeenth night, Ashvathama had resorted to violence and Duryodhana had hidden under water and these were described in separate chapters. Ashvathama’s cruelties were alone described in the Sauptika Maha parva containing three separate upa parvas. Sauptika upaparva, Aishika upaparva and Ashvathama upaparva are the three chapters after Shalya Maha parva.
The history told by Vyshampayana reflects the replies against curiosity but not the consequence in chronology of time. Gadayuddha happened after Sauptika Maha parva. On the eighteenth day, Duryodhana was alone lying there while Balarama had gone to Dwaraka.
What did Shalya do when the chariot of Karna could not move in the mud?
Shalya was the charioteer of Karna and he had done his best in the battlefield but the chariot could not move in the mud on the fifteenth day of the war. Due to various curses, also being unlucky, the arrows of Arjuna had hit Karna and Karna had died on the battlefield. Shalya had immediately jumped out of the chariot, climbed his own chariot and visited Duryodhana.
Most of the soldiers had died but with the remaining army fighters, they had gone to the Himalayan meadows and camped there to assemble. Duryodhana was still in the hope of getting success in fighting if Shalya was there. But Karna had already died on the fifteenth day.
Who was installed as the commander-in-chief for the Duryodhana army on the sixteenth and seventeenth day of war?
Shalya had been installed in front of Ashvathama as their chief warrior or the commander-in-chief at the Himalayan meadows. When Karna had fallen, Shalya became alert and ascended his own chariot. He took his weapons and started to follow Duryodhana on the sixteenth day early morning of the war.
Since Shalya had got his permission from Bhishma as well as from Kripa, the soldiers under him were enjoying and indirectly encouraged in the battlefield to move against the Pandavas. The war was very fierce on the sixteenth day and night, and on the seventeenth day up to the evening escape of Duryodhana.
Where was the installation process of Shalya held?
In the meadows of Himalaya, the installation process of Shalya was held. All the remaining alive group commanders had already reached there by chariot and assembled in front of Duryodhana to take orders for further war movements. Dushasana, Shakuni, Uluka, Chitrasena and many other brave kings were there. They had sworn for war, helping Shalya and fighting against Pandavas in the forthcoming days in Kurukshetra. All of them returned to Kurukshetra again.
What happened to Dushasana when he fought Bhima on the sixteenth day?
Dushasana had been protected by Karna during fighting with Bhima on the fifteenth day. Then, Shalya was his charioteer to Karna and until Karna’s death Dushasana was escaping. Different editions of Mahabharata are available. In some editions, the bundle of palm leaves of Dushasana Vadha had been included in the set of Karna parva. Karna was a sincere and reliable friend of Duryodhana and would not allow killing of Dushasana when Karna was alive with Shalya as charioteer in the battlefield. Original Jaya of Vyasa describes as follows:
तव पुत्रः सदासंख्ये कृतास्त्रो युद्ध दुर्मदः । दुःशासनो महाराज भीमसेनेन पातितः ॥
Sanjaya had reported to Dritarashtra ‘your son, wearing many weapons in the battlefield, Dushasana had fallen down by Bhimasena’.
Dushasana had been killed by Bhima during the fighting on the sixteenth day. On the previous day, Karna was killed by Arjuna and so Dushasana lost his protection in the war. Shalya was fighting with Yudhishtira elsewhere. Bhima had broken the heart of Dushasana by smashing with his mace, and then blood sprinkled over the body of Bhima. Few drops reached his lips as Bhima told it to Draupadi later.
On the sixteenth day night also, the war had continued and hence many soldiers, elephants, horses were killed on both sides. Date wise proof could not be inferred.
What changes were ordered by Shalya in the war?
After installing Shalya as the commander-in-chief for the army, he was ordered by Duryodhana that they should kill Pandavas for any reason since they were his enemies. Accordingly, Shalya had ordered that killing was mandatory for enemies.
On the first day of the war, Shalya had killed Uttarakumara and Shwetakumara, the sons of Virata. Then, he was not holding any posts as commander for any troops. On the sixteenth day, Bhima had killed Dushasana.
Yudhishtira had fulfilled his desire, by the grace of Krishna, and killed Shalya on the seventeenth day in the dual fight in the war. Then Duryodhana tried to escape from the back side of the soldiers.
Why Sanjaya could not report on the seventeenth evening to Dritarastra?
सात्यकिस्तु महाबाहुर्मम हत्वा परिच्छदं। जीवग्राहमग्रृह्णान्मां मूर्छितं पतितं भुवि ॥
‘The long handed Satyaki had killed my chariot horses and I had fallen unconscious on the battle field and I was arrested by him. On the seventeenth day evening, the atmosphere was tense due to killing of Shalya and the notorious exhibitions of Bhima’.
Sanjaya could not visit and report to Dritarashtra on the same day evening about those unpleasant incidences. Moreover, he was unable to move out of the prisoner’s camp. He was tied up by Satyaki, taken as a war prisoner and put inside the prisoner’s camp near the tent of Upapandavas. Vyasa appeared there and told to release Sanjaya.
Later, in the night Kritavarma had visited there. Ashvathama had put fire to most of the Pandavas camps and “Kritavarma had saved me from the burning-in tents and freed me” he said with a sigh. Sanjaya was benefitted by this incidence to collect the additional facts about the killing of Upapandavas, Drishtadyumna and Shikhandi by Ashvathama.
Kritavarma had waited outside the tents. Sanjaya had fled at once to the Kaurava side army rescue camp. Only on the following day early morning, Sanjaya had come out of the Kaurava rescue camp. Kritavarma could have discouraged the killing of Upapandavas but he supported the violence of Ashvathama.
Sanjaya was able to report about the death of Upapandavas, Drishtadyumna, Shikhandi and Shalya only on the eighteenth day evening after finishing of killing of Duryodhana. Later, on the eighteenth day Sanjaya could enter inside the Palace.
When Shalya died, what did Duryodhana and Ashvathama do?
Duryodhana had seen Sanjaya after Shalya had died, while he was running to army camp on the night of the seventeenth day. Duryodhana told secretly to Sanjaya about his plan to hide in the water tank and to inform only Kripa, being the safety custodian of the Hasinavati throne. But later it was published with Kritavarma also being the security-custodian of the Hasinavati Palace gate.
Ashvathama was searching for Duryodhana and found out from them. Then Ashvathama had obliged Kripa and Kritavarma to act as commandoes to him. For Ashvathama’s night massacre, they followed him to the camps of Pandavas during the night. Ashvathama with Kripa and Kritavarma rode on three horses.
When Shakuni and Uluka were killed?
Sahadeva had killed Shakuni and Uluka on the seventeenth day war.
What was reported by Sanjaya for the fourth time to Dritarashtra?
Sanjaya had finally reported for the fourth time to Dritarashtra about the end of Mahabharata war. He reported with great difficulty regarding his escape of death from the hands of Satyaki and Drishtadyumna. He reported regarding the death of Duryodhana also.
On the eighteenth day night, Kritavarma was sent to Dwaraka and it had been declared by Yudhishtira and Krishna that the war has ended. Balarama was not involved in the war so he had already reached Dwaraka.
Kripa was near the throne of Hastinavati waiting for the approach of Yudhishtira. Ashvathama had left to Badarikashrama riding on a horse for pursuing his higher studies under Vyasa.
Sanjaya was tired of helping the weeping people of the palace and pacifying the faithful servants. Vyasa had removed the divine vision powers of Sanjaya when he finished his war reports to Dritarashtra. Finally Sanjaya went to his home and slept.
How did Vyasa describe the people of Hastinavati Palace when the war ended?
Vyasa had described the sceneries of Hastinavati as a dried up river.
Who was the commander-in-chief of army after the eighteenth day?
Bhima was the commander-in-chief for the Hastinavati after the eighteenth day. In some versions, Ashvathama was referred but not in the original ‘JAYA’ of Vyasa.
What about the war on the seventeenth day as Sanjaya described?
अद्य सप्तदशाहानि वर्तमानस्य भारत । संग्रामस्यातिघोरस्य वध्यतां चाभितो युधि ॥
After disclosing the death of Duryodhana on the eighteenth day, Sanjaya had described about the most forceful war of the seventeenth day as per the queries of Dritarashtra. Except Duryodhana, Kritavarma, Kripa, Ashvathama and all the soldiers of the Kaurava army were killed on the seventeenth day.
Only seven people, Krishna, Satyaki and five Pandavas were alive on the Pandavas side. Sanjaya was not a soldier but a media reporter so by luck, he was alive along with the medical aid people, who had slept in the army rescue camp.
In a future article Sauptika Parva on this website, the violent massacre committed by Ashvathama would be seen. Shikhandi, Drishtadyumna, and all other remaining Pandava soldiers were killed on that night.
What did Kripa advise to Duryodhana in the morning of seventeenth day?
Kripa had advised to Duryodhana to make a peace treaty agreement with Yudhishtira. Kripa told him to avoid death. He warned of failure in the war.
What did Duryodhana reply in the morning with Kripa?
Duryodhan preferred death rather than to live under Yudhishtira’s rulings.
Who was more powerful, Bhima or Bhishma?
गजाश्वरथिभिर्हीना स्त्यक्तात्मानः पदातयः ।एकविंशतिसाहस्राः संयुगायावतस्थिरे ॥
Bhishma was killing only ten thousand soldiers daily. But Bhima was killing twenty one thousand soldiers daily. Hence, the eleven Akshohini soldiers were already killed on the side of Kauravas. Bhima was killing many elephants and horses also. So, Bhima was more powerful than Bhishma in the battlefield.
Who was more intelligent, Bhima or Bhishma?
Bhishma was the most intelligent man. Bhima was not so an intelligent man and was frequently consulting Yudhishtira. Yudhishtira had also later consulted Bhishma.
Who was more powerful, Shalya or Bhishma?
Shalya was more powerful than Bhishma. When Pandu, the father of Yudhishtira was returning after conquering the entire world, Pandu finally reached Madra kingdom and met with Shalya. Shalya and Pandu had discussed about administrations and emperor throne.
Madri was the sister of Shalya and the General of army for the Madra kingdom. Shalya told Pandu that Pandu could either fight with him or he could marry his sister Madri. Since Madri was beautiful, Pandu preferred marriage. Thus one war was avoided and Bhishma and Shalya had become relatives.
It was told to Duryodhana by Bhishma and prior to Mahabharata war, Duryodhana had already canvassed Shalya by providing hospitality to the soldiers of Shalya. These incidences were described on the website in Senodyoga parva. But Shalya was less intelligent then Bhishma.
How was Shalya killed? What happened to the Madra kingdom later?
Yudhishtira had killed Shalya in action in the war. Later, the Madra kingdom was divided into North Madra and South Madra. Nakula was crowned for North Madra and Sahadeva was crowned for the South Madra by Yudhishtira after the war. It was supported by Bhishma since he was alive then in the battlefield.
What was the inertia accounted as sin of Kritavarma?
His inertia on the seventeenth day night was paid back later in Dwaraka just before sinking of that Island. Kritavarma was under alcoholic drunken effects, and holding the curse of Gandhari. With Mausala pieces in hands, Satyaki had punished Kritavarma for his sins by fighting with him with, his own soldiers ultimately killing Kritavarma by the curse of Gandhari. In the Mausala parva articke on this website, the description would be available. Krishna was silent as he knew it.
What were the precautions kept in mind by the people fighting in the war?
The fighting people in Mahabharata war had taken some precautions in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Yudhishtira had not killed any Kauravas. Bhima had killed all the hundred Kaurava brothers only to keep his words. Karna had defeated Yudhishtira several times but not reported to Duryodhana since Karna always desired to defeat Arjuna alone.
All Pandavas except Arjuna were defeated by Karna. Arjuna had never killed anybody but only fulfilled the instructions of Krishna. Sanjaya was not killed but kept as a war prisoner by Satyaki. Yuyutsu had protected the army camps and after the end of the war in the evening of the eighteenth day, safely escorted the entire palace ladies, children and old men into the Hastinavati palace with the permission of Yudhishtira. He slept in his home.
In the Mahabharata war, if Kritavarma was on the left opposite side of Krishna, then Satyaki was in the same side of Krishna but on the extreme right side, and they never faced each other. It was in the Mausala parva only at the end but before sinking of Dwaraka Island inside the sea-water Kritavarma and Satyaki faced each other due the curse of Gandhari. It would be available in this website in Mausala parva.
Who were engaged in the security guard work of Bhishma after the war?
A few kings were alive, who were in the medical camps getting treatments when the war had ended and got their health recovered. Their names were not published by Vyasa but mentioned as ‘few kings’, and they were engaged in guarding Bhishma after the war for fifty six days. After the funeral of Bhishma, those few kings had returned to their own kingdoms with assurances to send contributions to Yudhishtira for conducting Ashvamedha yaga later in Hastinavati.
Next post, Mahabharat: Jala pravesha Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Saraswatha Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
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