Shloka 53
सैन्यं द्रवति चायुष्मन् कौरवेयं समन्तत: । पश्य योधान् रणे भग्नान् धावतो वै ततस्तत:
saṃjaya uvāca
sainyaṃ dravati cāyuṣman kauraveyaṃ samantataḥ | paśya yodhān raṇe bhagnān dhāvato vai tatastataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O long-lived one, the Kaurava host is breaking and streaming away on every side. Look—warriors, shattered in battle, are fleeing in all directions.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical reality that adharma, poor counsel, and collapsing morale lead to the disintegration of even a large force. In epic terms, when leadership loses steadiness and righteousness, the collective ‘sainya’ loses cohesion and courage, resulting in rout.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava army is in disorder and fleeing on all sides. He urges the king to ‘see’ the warriors who have been broken in battle and are running away in different directions, indicating a turning point of panic and collapse on the Kaurava side.