Shloka 11
Nakula–Śakuni Duel and the Night Battle; Śikhaṇḍin–Kṛpa Engagement (नकुल-शकुनियुद्धं तथा रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
अद्य कृष्णश्ष पार्थश्व॒ धर्मराजश्न माधव । हते त्वयि निरुत्साहा रण त्यक्ष्यन्त्यसंशयम्,“माधव! आज तुम्हारे मारे जानेपर श्रीकृष्ण, अर्जुन और धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर उत्साहशून्य हो युद्ध बंद कर देंगे, इसमें संशय नहीं है
sañjaya uvāca | adya kṛṣṇaś ca pārthaś ca dharmarājaś ca mādhava | hate tvayi nirutsāhā raṇaṁ tyakṣyanty asaṁśayam ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে— “মাধৱ! আজি যদি তুমি নিহত হওঁ, তেন্তে কৃষ্ণ, পাৰ্থ (অৰ্জুন) আৰু ধৰ্মৰাজ যুধিষ্ঠিৰ নিশ্চয়েই উদ্যমহীন হৈ যুদ্ধ ত্যাগ কৰিব; ইয়াত সন্দেহ নাই।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the presence or loss of a pivotal leader can determine collective resolve in a righteous struggle: dharma in war is not only about weapons and rules, but also about sustaining courage, clarity, and responsibility under crisis.
Sañjaya reports a prediction addressed to Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa): if Kṛṣṇa were killed, the principal Pāṇḍava leaders—Kṛṣṇa as guide, Arjuna as chief warrior, and Yudhiṣṭhira as king—would become dispirited and withdraw from the battle.