Shloka 22
कृता विसंज्ञा भूयिष्ठा: क्लान्तवाहनसैनिका: । थोड़ी ही देरमें अर्जुनने युद्धस्थलमें झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा अधिकांश सैन्धव वीरोंको संज्ञाशून्य कर दिया। उनके वाहन और सैनिक भी थकावटसे खिन्न हो रहे थे ।। २१ कल | तांस्तु सर्वान् परिग्लानान् विदित्वा धृतराष्ट्रजा
kṛtā visaṃjñā bhūyiṣṭhāḥ klāntavāhanasainikāḥ | tāṃstu sarvān pariglānān viditvā dhṛtarāṣṭrajāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Most of them were rendered unconscious, and their mounts and soldiers were exhausted and dispirited. Seeing all of them thus worn down, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra took note of the situation—an image of how, in war, prowess can swiftly reduce even proud warriors to helplessness, and how leaders are tested by what they choose to do when the enemy is already weakened.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the rapid, dehumanizing toll of battle—war reduces fighters to exhaustion and unconsciousness—and implicitly tests rulers and commanders: dharma is not only courage in combat but also discernment and restraint when others are already incapacitated.
Vaiśampāyana describes a battlefield moment where most warriors have been knocked senseless and their mounts and troops are fatigued; observing this weakened condition, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the Kauravas) recognize the situation and prepare to respond.