Shloka 32
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
तान् प्रेक्ष्य द्रवत: सर्वान् भीमसेनभयार्दितान् | दुर्योधनस्तदा सूतमब्रवीद् विजयाय च,भीमसेनके भयसे पीड़ित हुए अपने उन समस्त योद्धाओंको भागते देख दुर्योधनने विजयकी इच्छासे अपने सारथिसे कहा--
tān prekṣya dravataḥ sarvān bhīmasenabhayārditān | duryodhanas tadā sūtam abravīd vijayāya ca ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als er sah, wie all jene Krieger in panischer Flucht davonstürmten, vom Schrecken vor Bhīmasena gepeinigt, wandte sich Duryodhana damals an seinen Wagenlenker, vom Verlangen nach Sieg getrieben—um die Reihen zu sammeln und den Lauf der Schlacht zu wenden, obgleich Furcht und Zerfall in seinem Heer schwer wogen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethical tension: leadership is tested when fear spreads. Duryodhana’s impulse is to restore victory-oriented resolve, showing how desire for triumph can override reflection on the causes of collapse—namely, the terror inspired by a superior warrior and the fragility of morale.
Sañjaya reports that Kaurava fighters are fleeing, overwhelmed by fear of Bhīma. Observing this, Duryodhana turns to his charioteer and speaks, intending to regain control of the situation and pursue victory.