Shloka 1
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
अफ्-४#-छकाल जा दव्यशीतितमो<ध्याय: श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनसे डरकर कौरवसेनामें भगदड़
sañjaya uvāca | tathā pravṛtte saṅgrāme nivṛtte ca suśarmaṇi | bhagneṣu cāpi vīreṣu pāṇḍavena mahātmanā ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—ৰাজন্! এইদৰে যুদ্ধ আৰম্ভ হোৱাত মহাত্মা পাণ্ডৱৰ দ্বাৰা প্ৰতিহত হৈ সুশর্মা ৰণৰ পৰা আঁতৰি গ’ল; আৰু আন বীৰসকলেও, বীৰ হ’লেও, ভাঙি পলাই গ’ল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in war: valor is tested not by claims but by steadfastness under pressure. When confronted by a truly formidable and disciplined warrior, many who are called ‘heroes’ may still break—implying that kṣatriya-dharma demands inner steadiness as much as martial skill.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that as the battle begins in earnest, Suśarman is forced to withdraw, and other Kaurava-side warriors also become routed and flee due to the onslaught of the great-souled Pāṇḍava—understood here as Arjuna.