Shloka 24
आपूर्यमाणेनास्त्रेण सैन्ये क्षीयति च प्रभो । जगाम परम॑ त्रासं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:,राजन्! जब वह अस्त्र सब ओर व्याप्त हो गया और उसके द्वारा पाण्डव-सेना क्षीण होने लगी, तब धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको बड़ा भय हुआ
sañjaya uvāca | āpūryamāṇenāstreṇa sainye kṣīyati ca prabho | jagāma paramaṁ trāsaṁ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—হে প্ৰভু! সেই অস্ত্ৰ সকলোফালে ব্যাপি পৰিল আৰু তাৰ দ্বাৰা সেনা ক্ষয় হ’বলৈ ধৰিলে; তেতিয়া ধৰ্মপুত্ৰ যুধিষ্ঠিৰ চূড়ান্ত ভয়ত পৰিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical burden of leadership in war: when destructive force becomes pervasive and begins to annihilate one’s own ranks, even a righteous leader like Yudhiṣṭhira experiences intense fear—signaling the need for discernment, restraint, and responsibility regarding the use of overwhelming weapons.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a powerful astra has spread through the battlefield; as it causes the Pāṇḍava forces to dwindle, Yudhiṣṭhira is overcome by great terror at the mounting losses and the uncontrollable reach of the weapon.