Shloka 8
तदिदं निहते द्रोणे विषण्णमिव लक्ष्यते । युध्यमानाश्व समरे योधा वध्यन्ति सर्वश:,परंतु द्रोणाचार्यके मारे जानेपर यह सारी सेना विषादमें डूबी हुई-सी दिखायी देती है। समर-भूमिमें युद्ध करनेवाले प्रायः सभी योद्धा शत्रुओंके हाथसे मारे जाते हैं। रणभूमिमें जूझनेवाले वीरको कभी विजय भी प्राप्त होती है और कभी उसका वध भी हो जाता है। इसमें आश्वर्यकी कौन-सी बात है? अतः आपलोग सब ओर मुँह करके उत्साहपूर्वक युद्ध करें
tad idaṁ nihate droṇe viṣaṇṇam iva lakṣyate | yudhyamānāś ca samare yodhā vadhyante sarvaśaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Now that Droṇa has been slain, this entire host appears as though sunk in despondency. For on the battlefield, warriors who are engaged in combat are cut down on every side. In war, a fighter sometimes attains victory and sometimes meets death—what is surprising in that? Therefore, turning to every quarter, fight on with renewed ardor.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sañjaya frames battlefield loss as an expected consequence of war: victory and death alternate by fate and effort, so one should not collapse into despair but uphold one’s martial duty with steadiness and courage.
After Droṇa’s death, the army’s morale visibly sinks. Sañjaya observes that widespread killing is normal in battle and urges the warriors to face all directions and continue fighting with renewed energy.