Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 2
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
योधांश्व॒ स्वबलं चैव समन्ताद् भरतर्षभ | क्रोशतस्तव पुत्रस्य न सम राजन् न्यवर्तत
sañjaya uvāca |
yodhāṃś ca svabalaṃ caiva samantād bharatarṣabha |
krośatas tava putrasya na samā rājan nyavartata ||
Sañjaya said: “O bull among the Bharatas, Duryodhana tried from every side to check those warriors and to steady his own forces as the Pāṇḍavas pressed their attack upon your army. Yet, O king, even though your son shouted loudly, the fleeing troops did not turn back.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When an army (or any community) loses inner steadiness, mere shouting orders cannot restore discipline. Ethical decline and fear can dissolve cohesion, revealing that authority without trust and morale is ineffective.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that as the Pandavas attack, Duryodhana tries to restrain the warriors and stabilize his forces from all sides; however, despite his loud cries, the troops in flight do not turn back.