Shloka 2
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
द्रवमाणे बलौघे च निरानन्दे मुहुर्मुहु: । किमकुर्वन्त कुरवस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
dravamāṇe balaughe ca nirānande muhur muhuḥ | kim akurvanta kuravas tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ||
قال دريتاراشترا: «حين كانت جموعُ جيشي تتصدّع وتفرّ مرارًا، وقد سُلِبت كلَّ ثقةٍ وفرح، بينما كان الباندافا يضغطون الهجوم ويحصدون جيشي مرةً بعد مرة—ماذا فعل الكورو عندئذ؟ أخبرني يا سنجيا.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly power collapses when morale and cohesion fail. In ethical terms, it points to the consequences of adharma-driven leadership: when a cause is weakened by injustice and fear, even a large army can become ‘nirānanda’—spiritless—and break repeatedly.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about a critical moment in the battle: his forces are repeatedly routed and dispirited under the Pāṇḍavas’ pressure. He asks what the Kuru warriors did in response—seeking tactical and emotional reassurance amid worsening news.