Shloka 1
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
अत-#--#क्रतज चतुर्विशो$ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णके सम्मुख अर्जुनद्वारा दुर्योधनके दुराग्रहकी निन्दा और रथियोंकी सेनाका संहार संजय उवाच तस्मिन् शब्दे मृदौ जाते पाण्डवैर्निहते बले । अश्लैः सप्तशतै: शिष्टैरुपावर्तत सौबल:
sañjaya uvāca | tasmin śabde mṛdau jāte pāṇḍavair nihate bale | aśvaiḥ saptśataiḥ śiṣṭair upāvartata saubalaḥ ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—হে রাজন! পাণ্ডবরা অধিকাংশ সেনা নিধন করলে এবং যুদ্ধের কোলাহল মৃদু হয়ে এলে, তখন সুবলপুত্র শকুনি অবশিষ্ট সাতশো শৃঙ্খলাবদ্ধ অশ্বারোহীসহ ফিরে এসে কৌরবসেনার নিকট উপস্থিত হলো।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the inevitable weakening of an unrighteous cause: when adharma-driven obstinacy leads to ruin, only a small, disciplined remnant remains, and even skilled agents like Śakuni are reduced to regrouping amid collapse.
After the Pāṇḍavas have slaughtered much of the opposing force and the battlefield uproar quiets, Śakuni (son of Subala) approaches the Kaurava side accompanied by the remaining seven hundred cavalry.