Shloka 63
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
कुरुभि: सहितो वीर: प्रहृष्ट: पृष्ठतो5न्वगात् । तदनन्तर युधिष्ठिरकी सेनाको युद्धसे विमुख हुई देख हर्षमें भरे हुए वीर कर्णने कौरव- सैनिकोंको साथ लेकर कुछ दूरतक उसका पीछा किया ।।
kurubhiḥ sahito vīraḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nvagāt | tadanantaraṃ yudhiṣṭhira-senāṃ yuddhase vimukhīṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣaṃ gataḥ vīraḥ karṇaḥ kaurava-sainikaiḥ saha kiñcid dūraṃ tāṃ anujagāma ||
Sañjaya said: Accompanied by the Kurus, the valiant Karṇa—exultant—followed from behind. Then, seeing Yudhiṣṭhira’s army turn away from the battle, Karṇa, filled with elation, pursued it for some distance along with the Kaurava troops. The moment underscores how shifts in morale and formation on the battlefield are seized upon as signs of advantage, even as the ethical weight of pursuit and rout hangs over the scene.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly battlefield fortunes are interpreted through visible signs—like an army turning away—and how warriors act on such moments. Ethically, it invites reflection on the thin line between rightful kṣatriya pursuit of victory and the moral gravity of pressing an opponent who is breaking formation.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, encouraged by the sight of Yudhiṣṭhira’s forces turning away from combat, advances with Kaurava troops and chases them for a short distance, taking the retreat as an opportunity to press the advantage.