Shloka 19
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
दृष्टवा विशोक॑ समरे भीमसेनस्य सारथिम् । धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज दुर्मना गतचेतन:,महाराज! भीमसेनके सारथि विशोकको समर-भूमिमें अकेला खड़ा देख धृष्टद्युम्न मन- ही-मन बहुत दुःखी और अचेत हो गये
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā viśokaṃ samare bhīmasenasya sārathim |
dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja durmanā gatacetanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, seeing Viśoka—the charioteer of Bhīmasena—standing alone upon the battlefield, Dhṛṣṭadyumna was stricken with inward distress and, overwhelmed by grief, lost his composure.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the human cost of war: even strong commanders can be shaken by sudden, vulnerable sights on the battlefield. It implicitly contrasts the demands of kṣatriya-duty with the natural surge of compassion and grief, showing how ethical resolve must contend with emotional reality.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Dhṛṣṭadyumna sees Viśoka, Bhīma’s charioteer, standing alone in the battle. This sight makes Dhṛṣṭadyumna deeply dejected and momentarily lose his composure (as if stunned or faint).