Shloka 18
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६२: वासुदेवमहात्म्यप्रशंसा (देव–ब्रह्मसंवादः)
त॑ विसंज्ञं विदित्वा तु त्वरमाणो5स्य सारथि: | अपोवाह रणाद्ू राज॑स्तत: सैन्यमभज्यत,राजन! उसे संज्ञाशून्य जानकर उसका सारथि बड़ी उतावलीके साथ उसे रणभूमिसे बाहर ले गया। फिर तो उसकी सेनामें भगदड़ मच गयी
taṁ visaṁjñaṁ viditvā tu tvaramāṇo ’sya sārathiḥ | apovāha raṇād rājans tataḥ sainyam abhajyata ||
Sañjaya said: Realizing that he had fallen unconscious, his charioteer hurriedly carried him away from the battlefield. Thereupon, O King, confusion and rout spread through that army.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical ethical lesson of war and leadership: when a prominent fighter is seen incapacitated, collective courage can crumble, leading to disorder. It underscores the responsibility of protectors and leaders to sustain steadiness, and the charioteer’s duty of care in removing an unconscious warrior from immediate peril.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that a warrior has become unconscious; recognizing this, the warrior’s charioteer quickly drives him away from the battlefield. The sight or news of this triggers panic and fragmentation in the surrounding army, resulting in a rout.