Shloka 17
द्रोणाभिमुखानां निवारण-युद्धम् / Interceptions on the Droṇa-front
व्यक्तमेव च मे शंस यथा युद्धमवर्तत । के<्युध्यन् के व्यपाकुर्वन् के क्षुद्रा: प्राद्रवन् भयात्
vyaktam eva ca me śaṃsa yathā yuddham avartata | ke ’yudhyan ke vyapākurvan ke kṣudrāḥ prādravan bhayāt ||
قال دِهْرِتَرَاشْتْرَا: «أخبرني صراحةً كيف دارت المعركة. من الذي واصل القتال، ومن الذي انقلب راجعًا وانسحب، ومن—دنيءٌ وواهنُ القلب—فرّ هلعًا؟»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical scrutiny applied to conduct in war: steadfast courage is contrasted with retreat and fear-driven flight, and cowardice is morally censured as “kṣudra” (ignoble).
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya for a clear report of the day’s fighting—seeking to know which warriors stood firm, which withdrew, and which fled in fear.