Shloka 23
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
दृष्टवा च युक्त त॑ युद्धे ब्राह्मणं चरितव्रतम् अपयातस्ततस्तूर्ण शिखण्डी राजसत्तम
sañjaya uvāca | dṛṣṭvā ca yuktaṃ yuddhe brāhmaṇaṃ caritavratam | apayātas tatas tūrṇaṃ śikhaṇḍī rājasattama nṛpaśreṣṭha |
Sañjaya said: “Seeing the brāhmaṇa Kṛpācārya—steadfast in his vowed discipline and fully engaged in battle—Śikhaṇḍī, O best of kings, withdrew at once and quickly fled from that place.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, perceived moral authority and disciplined observance of vows (vrata) can influence behavior: a warrior may hesitate, withdraw, or avoid confrontation when facing someone regarded as spiritually and ethically formidable.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śikhaṇḍī, upon seeing Kṛpācārya—described as a vow-observing brāhmaṇa—actively engaged in battle, immediately retreated and fled from that spot.