Shloka 26
निहते शकुनौ राजा धार॑राष्ट्र: सुदुर्मना: । अपाक्रामद् गदापाणिहत भूयिष्ठसैनिक:,शकुनिकी मृत्यु हो जानेपर राजा दुर्योधनके मनमें बड़ा दुःख हुआ। उसके बहुत-से सैनिक युद्धमें मार डाले गये थे। इसलिये वह अकेला ही हाथमें गदा लेकर रणभूमिसे भाग निकला
nihate śakunau rājā dhāra-rāṣṭraḥ sudurmanāḥ | apākrāmad gadāpāṇi-hata-bhūyiṣṭha-sainikaḥ ||
Als Śakuni erschlagen war, versank der Sohn Dhṛtarāṣṭras (Duryodhana) in tiefer Trauer. Da der Großteil seiner Truppen bereits vernichtet war, zog er sich vom Schlachtfeld zurück und floh allein, die Keule in der Hand.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical consequence of adharma-driven conflict: when one’s cause is unrighteous and sustained by deceitful counsel, defeat brings not only military loss but inner collapse—grief, fear, and isolation. Power without dharma proves unstable, and attachment to victory ends in abandonment by circumstances and the destruction of one’s support.
After Śakuni is killed, Duryodhana (called 'Dhārtarāṣṭra') becomes deeply distressed. With the majority of his soldiers already slain—especially in the mace-fight context—he retreats from the battlefield, fleeing alone while still holding his mace.