Krishna's elder brother, who taught both Bhima and Duryodhana the mace, took no side, and raged at the blow that ended the war.
Appears in
Krishna chooses sides — Arjuna picks Krishna unarmed over Krishna's whole army, and Shalya is won for Duryodhana by a row of roadside halls
The last duel — Duryodhana hides in a lake, rises to one last mace fight, and falls to a blow below the navel that even Krishna does not call fair.
The iron pestle — Young Yadavas dress Krishna's son as a pregnant woman to mock three sages, and the sages say he will give birth to his people's end
The death of Krishna — A hunter named Old Age mistakes Krishna for a deer, and soon after Arjuna can barely string Gandiva against herdsmen with sticks
Embodies
Kinship and enmity — The war is a family quarrel: across the field stand cousins, teachers and elders, all owed reverence.
Questions to explore
Why does Balarama stay out of the war?
Was Bhima's blow to Duryodhana's thigh against the rules of the mace?
