Shloka 49
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
सैन्धवाभिमुखं यान्तं योधा: सम्प्रेक्ष्य पाण्डवम् । न्यवर्तन्त रणाद् वीरा निराशास्तस्य जीविते,साथ ही उसे झुकी हुई गाँठवाले चौंसठ बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया। पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको सिंधुराजके सम्मुख जाते देख हमारे पक्षके वीर योद्धा उसके जीवनसे निराश होकर युद्धसे निवृत्त हो गये
saindhavābhimukhaṁ yāntaṁ yodhāḥ samprekṣya pāṇḍavam | nyavartanta raṇād vīrā nirāśās tasya jīvite ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Pāṇḍava warrior advancing straight toward Saindhava (Jayadratha), the brave fighters on our side withdrew from the battle, having lost hope that he would survive.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield dharma is tested by fear and perceived inevitability: when a warrior’s advance seems unstoppable, others may abandon the fight, revealing the fragile line between valor and survival-driven retreat.
Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) is seen moving directly toward Jayadratha (Saindhava). Observing this, Kaurava-side heroes withdraw from combat, believing Arjuna’s charge makes his survival unlikely in the immediate clash.