Shloka 3
Abhimanyu-śravaṇa-prastāva and Cakravyūha-vinyāsa
Prelude to Abhimanyu’s Account and the Wheel-Formation Deployment
अवहारं ततः कृत्वा भारद्वाजस्य सम्मते | लब्धलक्ष्यै: शरैर्भिन्ना भूशावहसिता रणे,संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! जब अमित तेजस्वी अर्जुनने पहले ही हम सब लोगोंको भगा दिया, द्रोणाचार्यका संकल्प व्यर्थ हो गया तथा राजा युधिष्ठिर सर्वथा सुरक्षित रह गये, तब आपके समस्त सैनिक द्रोणाचार्यकी सम्मतिसे युद्ध बंद करके भयसे अत्यन्त उद्विग्न हो दसों दिशाओंकी ओर देखते हुए शिविरकी ओर चल दिये। वे सब-के-सब युद्धमें पराजित होकर धूलमें भर गये थे। उनके कवच छित्न-भिन्न हो गये थे तथा कभी न चूकनेवाले अर्जुनके बाणोंसे विदीर्ण होकर वे रणक्षेत्रमें अत्यन्त उपहासके पात्र बन गये
avahāraṁ tataḥ kṛtvā bhāradvājasya sammate | labdhalakṣyaiḥ śarair bhinnā bhūśāvahasitā raṇe ||
Sañjaya said: Then, acting in accordance with the counsel of Bhāradvāja (Droṇa), they made a withdrawal. Split apart by arrows that had found their mark, they became objects of ridicule on the battlefield, lying smeared with dust.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical reality of war: when strategy fails and losses mount, even proud warriors must accept withdrawal under a commander’s counsel. It underscores accountability in leadership (acting ‘in accordance with Droṇa’s judgment’) and the sobering consequence of violence—public disgrace and bodily ruin follow from martial defeat.
Sañjaya reports that the troops, following Droṇa’s decision, pull back from the fight. They have been struck by accurately aimed arrows and are left dust-covered and mocked on the battlefield—an image of a routed force after a punishing engagement.