Shloka 806
पीड्यमाना: शितै: शस्त्रै: प्राद्रवाम रणे तदा । राजन्! उस समय श्वेतवाहन कुन्तीपुत्र धनंजयसे डरकर उनके तीखे अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंसे पीड़ित हो हम सभी लोग रणभूमिसे भागने लगे थे
pīḍyamānāḥ śitaiḥ śastraiḥ prādravāma raṇe tadā | rājan |
Sañjaya said: O King, at that time, tormented by their keen weapons in the midst of battle, we all broke and fled from the field. The verse underscores how fear and overwhelming force can shake even seasoned warriors, revealing the moral pressure of war where courage, duty, and survival collide.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological and ethical strain of war: even those bound by warrior-duty can be driven to retreat when overwhelmed. It implicitly contrasts ideal kṣatriya steadfastness with the human reality of fear under extreme violence.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, during the fighting, his side was struck by sharp weapons and, unable to withstand the assault, they collectively fled from the battlefield.