Shloka 423
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
द्राव्यमाणान्यदृश्यन्त सौबलेन महात्मना । महामना शकुनिने घमंडमें भरे हुए उन शस्त्रसम्पन्न महान् सैनिकोंको भगा दिया। यह सब हमने अपनी आँखों देखा
sañjaya uvāca | drāvyamāṇāny adṛśyanta saubalena mahātmanā | mahāmanā śakuninā ||
قال سنجيا: «لقد شوهدوا يُساقون إلى الفرار على يد ابن سوبالا العظيم النفس—شكوني السامي الهمة. وهكذا، أمام أعيننا نحن، بدّد شكوني أولئك المحاربين المتكبرين، المزوّدين بالسلاح، وأوقعهم في الهزيمة.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and mere armament do not guarantee steadiness in battle; resolve and tactical force can scatter even well-equipped fighters. Ethically, it underscores the Mahabharata’s recurring warning against overconfidence (mada/garva) amid the demands of kshatriya conduct.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra what he witnessed on the battlefield: Shakuni, identified as Saubala (son of Subala), drove opposing warriors into flight, and this rout was plainly visible to the observers.