Every Character in the Mahabharata, is also a metaphor for the problems that we face in our daily lives, some characters show us more than one.

Let's take Shalya, the brother of Madri. He wants to fight for the Pandavas, and brings his army for the same purpose

Enroute, he accepts Hospitality of certain individuals, thinking it has been arranged by Yudhishtira. However, he belatedly realizes, that the whole thing was organized by Duryodhana. Now, as Shalya has accepted Duryodhana's Hospitality, he is indebted to fight for his side.

Shalya, against his wishes, gets tricked to fight for the Kauravas.

Now Shalya, is also a powerful guy. He has a boon, that he automatically feeds on the aggression of his opponents. So the more aggressive someone gets towards Shalya, the more powerful he becomes.

On Day 18, when Arjuna volunteers to fight Shalya, Lord Krishna Stops him and asks Yudhishtir to fight him. Because Yudhishtira, is the only who always remains calm in combat. And he is the only one who won't feed Shalya, any energy.

Fittingly, it is he who defeats Shalya

Shalya character traits, exemplify various family and personal disputes and other conflicts, we fight in daily lives.

Most of the time, we are tricked into fighting them, when we have no intention to.

The more aggressive we get towards them, the worse they become.

And, if we ever take a step back, and deal with them coolly, most of the time they disappear.

We are the ones who give those conflicts the energy to grow big in our lives, to such an extent that they defeat us.

All we need to do, to defeat them, is keep calm. Like Yudhishtira