Shloka 2
कर्णवधोत्तरं शल्य-दुर्योधनसंवादः
Aftermath of Karṇa’s Fall: Śalya’s Address to Duryodhana
विप्रद्रुता तात चमूस्त्वदीया तिरस्कृता चाद्य यथा न साधु । भीतो भीम॑ त्यज्य चायास्तथा त्वं यन्ञाशक: कर्णमथो निहन्तुम्
sañjaya uvāca |
vipradṛutā tāta camūs tvadīyā tiraskṛtā cādya yathā na sādhu |
bhīto bhīmaṃ tyajya cāyās tathā tvaṃ yannāśakaḥ karṇam atho nihantum ||
Sañjaya said: “Dear son, your entire army has been put to flight. And today you have treated it with a contempt that cannot be called proper. Unable to overcome Karṇa, you came away in fear—abandoning Bhīmasena there—though you had set out with the intent to destroy Karṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes unethical or imprudent leadership in war: contempt for one’s own troops and retreat driven by fear, especially after failing one’s stated aim, is portrayed as ‘not proper’ (na sādhu). It highlights the moral expectation that a leader should not slight his forces or abandon allies when facing adversity.
Sañjaya reports to Duryodhana that the Kaurava army has been routed. He reproaches Duryodhana for having disregarded his own troops and for retreating in fear after failing to defeat Karṇa, leaving Bhīmasena behind, despite having gone forth with the intention of killing Karṇa.