Shloka 23
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
दृष्टवा च युक्त त॑ युद्धे ब्राह्मणं चरितव्रतम् अपयातस्ततस्तूर्ण शिखण्डी राजसत्तम,नृपश्रेष्ठ! ब्रह्मचर्य व्रतका पालन करनेवाले ब्राह्मण कृपाचार्यको सुकेतुके साथ युद्धमें तत्पर देख शिखण्डी तुरंत वहाँसे भाग निकला
sañjaya uvāca | dṛṣṭvā ca yuktaṃ yuddhe brāhmaṇaṃ caritavratam | apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī rājasattama nṛpaśreṣṭha |
সঞ্জয় বললেন—নৃপশ্রেষ্ঠ! ব্রহ্মচর্য-ব্রতপালনকারী ব্রাহ্মণ কৃপাচার্যকে সুকেতুর সঙ্গে যুদ্ধে সম্পূর্ণ উদ্যত দেখে শিখণ্ডী তৎক্ষণাৎ সেখান থেকে সরে গিয়ে দ্রুত পালিয়ে গেল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, perceived moral authority and disciplined observance of vows (vrata) can influence behavior: a warrior may hesitate, withdraw, or avoid confrontation when facing someone regarded as spiritually and ethically formidable.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śikhaṇḍī, upon seeing Kṛpācārya—described as a vow-observing brāhmaṇa—actively engaged in battle, immediately retreated and fled from that spot.