Shloka 25
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं ब्रुवन्नेव तदा धृतराष्ट्रोडम्बिकासुत: । हतप्रवीरं विश्वस्तं किंचिच्छेषं स्वकं बलम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca evaṁ bruvann eva tadā dhṛtarāṣṭro ḍambikāsutaḥ | hatapravīraṁ viśvastaṁ kiṁciccheṣaṁ svakaṁ balam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: As he was speaking thus at that time, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana) looked upon his own army—its foremost heroes slain, its confidence shaken, and only a small remnant left.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unrighteous persistence in war leads not only to physical losses but also to the erosion of morale and stability; when leading figures fall, the remaining force becomes a fragile remnant, exposing the ethical and practical cost of adharma.
The narrator describes Duryodhana, in the midst of events, recognizing that his own army has been devastated—its chief warriors killed and only a small remainder left—signaling a turning point toward defeat.