Shloka 326
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
अपायाज्जवनैरश्लै: सहदेवश्व॒ मारिष । माननीय नरेश! मद्रराज शल्यके हाँके हुए घोड़े ऐसे भाग रहे थे, मानो आकाशमें उड़ रहे हों। कर्णके चले जानेपर कुन्तीकुमार पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठि3 और सहदेव तीव्रगामी घोड़ोंद्वारा वहाँसे भाग गये
apāyāj javanaiḥ aśvaiḥ sahadevaś ca māriṣa | mānanīya nareśa! madrarāja-śalyena hāṅkite hayāḥ evaṃ bhāgyaṃś cakruḥ, yathā ākāśe uḍḍīyante sma | karṇe gate kuntīkumārau pāṇḍuputrau yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sahadevaś ca tīvra-gāmi-aśvaiḥ tataḥ palāyitau ||
Sanjaya said: O noble one, Sahadeva too withdrew with swift horses. O revered king, the steeds urged on by Shalya, the king of Madra, fled as though they were flying through the sky. After Karna had moved away, the sons of Kunti—Pandhu’s sons Yudhishthira and Sahadeva—also escaped from that place, borne by their fast-moving horses.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharma-centered war, prudence and preservation of life can be necessary: when the tactical situation turns unfavorable, withdrawal is a legitimate choice to prevent needless loss and to regroup for a more righteous and effective continuation of duty.
Sanjaya reports that Sahadeva retreats with swift horses. Shalya, acting as Karna’s charioteer, drives the horses so fast they seem to fly. After Karna departs, Yudhishthira and Sahadeva flee the battlefield area using their fast-moving horses.