The Pandava twins' uncle, won to the Kaurava side by hospitality on the road, who drives Karna's chariot and talks him toward defeat.
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
Bhima keeps his oath — Thirteen years after the dice hall Bhima tears open Duhshasana's chest on the battlefield and drinks his blood, as he swore he would
The death of Karna — Karna's wheel sinks into the earth and he appeals to the rules of war, and Krishna answers with what Karna did in the dice hall
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.
Embodies
Kinship and enmity — The war is a family quarrel: across the field stand cousins, teachers and elders, all owed reverence.
Counsel that goes unheeded — Someone in the room always says exactly what should be done, is heard politely, and is ignored — and the epic records the advice each time
Questions to explore
Why does Shalya fight for the side he promised to undermine?
What does Shalya's driving do to Karna in the last duel?
