Shloka 7
अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च
Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents
ते हन्यमाना: समरे नाजहु: पाण्डवं रणे । हन्यमाना महाराज शलभा इव पावकम्
te hanyamānāḥ samare nājahuḥ pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe | hanyamānā mahārāja śalabhā iva pāvakam ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—হে মহারাজ! যুদ্ধে নিহত হতে হতে ও তারা রণক্ষেত্রে পাণ্ডবপুত্র অর্জুনকে ত্যাগ করল না। যেমন পতঙ্গ জ্বলতে জ্বলতেও আগুনে ঝাঁপ দেয়, তেমনি তারা আঘাতে আঘাতে নত হয়েও তার দিকেই ধেয়ে গেল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, intense resolve and rage can drive fighters to persist even when it is clearly self-destructive—like moths drawn to flame. It implicitly warns that courage without discernment can become ruinous.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warriors facing Arjuna did not retreat from him even as they were being killed; instead, they continued to press the attack, compared to moths repeatedly rushing into fire.