Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 826
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
जवेनापतत: पार्थनिक: सर्वानवारयत् | उस समय दुर्योधनने यह देखकर कि मेरी सेना मेरे पाससे भाग गयी है, वेगसे आक्रमण करनेवाले समस्त पाण्डवयोद्धाओंको अकेले ही रोका
javena āpatataḥ pārthanikaḥ sarvān avārayat |
Sanjaya said: With swift force, the warrior of the Pārthas checked them all. At that moment, Duryodhana, seeing that my army had fled from his side, single-handedly held back all the Pāṇḍava fighters who were charging in with speed.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts individual valor with collective moral and strategic failure: even when a leader shows personal courage, an army that loses cohesion and resolve collapses. It highlights the ethical tension in war—heroism can coexist with a cause already undermined by adharma and fear.
Sañjaya reports that as the Pāṇḍava fighters rush forward, they are checked. Duryodhana, noticing his forces have fled from his vicinity, advances with speed and alone attempts to stop the charging Pāṇḍava warriors, trying to stabilize the battle line.
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