Introduction
Shalya is the king of Madra and the brother of Madri, making him the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva.
Joining the Kauravas
Shalya set out to join the Pandavas but was hosted grandly on the way by Duryodhana's men. Thinking Yudhishthira had arranged it, he promised to grant a boon to the host, and Duryodhana asked for his support. Shalya met Yudhishthira and told him what he had done.
In the war
Shalya became the charioteer of Karna in the last stage of the war, at Karna's request, and taunted him. After Karna's death he became the Kaurava commander for a day. He was killed by Yudhishthira on the eighteenth day.