Skip to content
Śalya
EntityQ2381126· pop 16· linked from 219 articles

Shalya (, lit. Pike) is a major character in the Mahabharata, one of two Sanskrit epics of Ancient India. He was a powerful king from the Bahlika clan, ruling over the Madra kingdom in the Northwest region of the Indian subcontinent. Although he was the brother of Madri, the wife of Pandu, Shalya sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Despite his allegiance, he supported the Pandavas and wished for their victory. While he initially fought as a key warrior for the Kauravas, he was made Karna’s charioteer and, following Karna’s death, was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Kaura

Key facts

Character.info hdr
Information
Character.image
File:Shalya in Kurukshetra (cropped).jpg
Character.caption
Shalya driving the chariot of Karna (cropped), Pahari painting, c. 1820
Character.weapon
Spear and Gada
Character.children
Rukmangada and Rukmaratha
Character.affiliation
Kauravas
Character.origin
Madra
Character.series
Mahabharata
Character.family
Madri (sister)
Character.relatives
Nakula and Sahadeva (nephews), Pandu (brother-in-law)

via Wikipedia infobox

~5 min read

Article

9 sections
Contents
  • Epithets
  • Early life and relations
  • Allegiance to Duryodhana
  • Role in the Kurukshetra War
  • Participation in the battle
  • Charioteer of Karna
  • Commander-in-chief and death
  • Previous birth
  • References

Shalya (, lit. Pike) is a major character in the Mahabharata, one of two Sanskrit epics of Ancient India. He was a powerful king from the Bahlika clan, ruling over the Madra kingdom in the Northwest region of the Indian subcontinent. Although he was the brother of Madri, the wife of Pandu, Shalya sided with the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War. Despite his allegiance, he supported the Pandavas and wished for their victory. While he initially fought as a key warrior for the Kauravas, he was made Karna’s charioteer and, following Karna’s death, was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava forces. Shalya was killed by the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira.

== Epithets == Shalya is referred to by various epithets, including: Artayani Balhika Pungava Madradhipa Madraja Madrajanadhipa Madraka Madraraj Sauvira

Gallery (2)

Connections

Categories