नाशंसन्तो जयं युद्धे दीनात्मानो धनंजय । आत्मत्राणे मतिं कृत्वा प्राद्रवन् कुरवो रणात्
nāśaṃsanto jayaṃ yuddhe dīnātmāno dhanaṃjaya | ātmatrāṇe matiṃ kṛtvā prādravan kuravo raṇāt |
ধনঞ্জয়! যুদ্ধত জয়ৰ আশা এৰি, মনোবলে ভাঙি পৰা কৌৰৱসকলে কেৱল প্ৰাণৰক্ষা ভাবি ৰণক্ষেত্ৰৰ পৰা পলাই গ’ল।
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse highlights how inner resolve determines conduct in crisis: when hope of victory collapses, fear and self-preservation can override martial duty, leading to retreat. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with a mind dominated by survival-anxiety.
Yudhiṣṭhira reports that the Kaurava forces, despairing of winning against Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) and the Pāṇḍavas, became demoralized and fled the battlefield, focusing only on saving their lives.