King Shalya was the brother of Madri, the mother of Nakula and Sahadeva. This technically made him an uncle of the Pandavas. When he was young, he entered a competition among princes and nobilities to marry Kunti, but subsequently lost to Pandu. Madri was married off to Pandu as part of a secret deal between Shalya and Pandu. Shalya was a skilled archer and formidable warrior. He reluctantly entered the Kurukshetra war on the Kauravas' side after being tricked by Duryodhana and Shakuni. Shalya served as Karna's charioteer