Shloka 195
यदाश्रौषं वाहनेष्वक्षमेषु रथोपस्थे तिष्ठता पाण्डवेन । सर्वान् योधान् वारितानर्जुनेन तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,जब संग्रामभूमिमें रथके घोड़े अपना काम करनेमें असमर्थ हो गये, तब रथके समीप ही खड़े होकर पाण्डववीर अर्जुनने अकेले ही सब योद्धाओंका सामना किया और उन्हें रोक दिया। मैंने जिस समय यह बात सुनी, संजय! उसी समय मैंने विजयकी आशा छोड़ दी
yadāśrauṣaṃ vāhaneṣv akṣameṣu rathopasthe tiṣṭhatā pāṇḍavena | sarvān yodhān vāritān arjunena tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya saṃjaya ||
When I heard that the horses had become incapable of doing their work, and that the Pāṇḍava hero Arjuna, standing close by the chariot, single-handedly faced and checked all the warriors, then, Saṃjaya, at that very moment I abandoned all hope of victory.
Educational Q&A
Even when external supports (like the chariot-horses) fail, steadfast resolve and disciplined courage can hold the line; the verse also shows how morale and the perception of a single hero’s firmness can decisively shift expectations of victory.
The speaker reports hearing that the horses became ineffective, yet Arjuna, standing near the chariot, alone checked the opposing warriors; on hearing this, he tells Saṃjaya that he lost hope of victory.