Sanjaya continued his narration before the aged monarch. “O King, your son Duryodhana rejoices greatly, for Karna, his unwavering friend and champion, has accepted his solemn commitment with a fearless heart. Trusting completely in Karna’s valor, Duryodhana approached him with confidence. Karna declared, ‘Grant me only one favor. Let King Shalya hold the reins of my chariot. That alone will ensure success. Do this single deed, and behold how I shall torment Arjuna upon the battlefield. Bhishma has fallen, Drona has departed, and though our army stands diminished, I have resolved to conquer the Pandavas through your confidence in my prowess and through my own unyielding courage.’”
Encouraged by these words, Duryodhana went to King Shalya with humility and earnestness. “O mighty sovereign,” he pleaded, “bestow upon me this single boon. Become the charioteer of Karna. In both of you rests the hope of the Kuru kingdom. You know the gravity of this hour. Just as Aruna guides Surya across the heavens and, by his service, dispels the darkness from the world, so too will your mastery over horses enable Karna to scatter our enemies. When you take the reins of his chariot, the hearts of the Pandavas will melt with fear, and confusion will overtake their ranks.”
At these words, the countenance of Shalya changed instantly. His eyes blazed crimson with indignation, his brows drew together, beads of perspiration gathered upon his forehead, and his cheeks trembled with restrained fury. Looking directly at Duryodhana, he spoke with the dignity of an anointed monarch. “O King, have you forgotten the sacred order that governs royal duty? You ask a consecrated Kshatriya of my rank to perform a task beneath his station. Is this the honor reserved for one who wears a crown? Shall I, born of noble lineage, become the driver of Radheya’s chariot? Do you imagine Karna surpasses me in strength or glory? Only now do I perceive the depth of this humiliation.”
Shalya’s voice grew even more resolute. “If you truly wish to witness my power, point me toward any warrior among the enemy hosts, and I shall destroy him before your eyes. If that does not satisfy your expectation, I alone shall annihilate every foe who stands against the Kurus. Should I reveal the full measure of my valor, they would not possess even the courage to behold my combat. I could uproot the seven mighty mountain ranges—Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktiman, Riksha, Vindhya, and Pariyatra. I could agitate the oceans themselves and rend the very earth apart. If your request arises merely because you know not the extent of my strength, then behold these hands, which have never failed in battle. To become the guide of an inferior warrior diminishes my honor and robs me of the opportunity to fulfill my sacred vow upon the field. The son of Radha does not equal even one-sixteenth of my strength. Neither do I fear Arjuna, son of Indra, nor Krishna, the destroyer of the demon Mura. It is because you fail to discern the true path to victory that you make such a request. If your affection for Karna exceeds your regard for me, I shall return at once to my own kingdom.”
Having uttered these words, Shalya turned to depart from the royal assembly. Duryodhana, recognizing the peril of losing so mighty an ally, hastened after him with folded hands, setting aside all royal pride. With reverence, gentleness, and carefully chosen words, he restrained the offended king. “O Shalya,” he said, “there is no greater master of chariots than you in this vast assembly. My request was never meant to compare your greatness with Karna’s, nor to lessen your honor. I have entrusted this duty to you because I perceive a deeper strategy. This is not the hour to dispute who is greater. Karna possesses every quality needed to confront Arjuna, yet even his excellence requires the guidance of one whose understanding of horses surpasses all others. In that art you stand even above Krishna himself. Ashwatthama proposed that Karna should lead our army, and with your approval I merely carried out the decision accepted by all. Yet Krishna continually overturns our carefully laid plans through his wisdom. Only your unmatched skill can counter his subtle strategy and restore fortune to our cause.”
Thus Duryodhana exhausted every argument of affection, honor, and diplomacy to persuade the proud king to accept the reins of Karna’s chariot. Sanjaya paused briefly in his narration, while the blind monarch listened with anxious anticipation, eager to learn whether Duryodhana’s patient persuasion would soften Shalya’s wounded pride and turn the course of destiny in favor of the Kauravas.
