Shloka 1
अपन बक। ] अतिफ्ऑशाड< दशमो< ध्याय: नकुलद्वारा कर्णके तीन पुत्रोंका वध तथा उभयपक्षकी सेनाओंका भयानक युद्ध संजय उवाच तत् प्रभग्नं बल॑ दृष्टवा मद्रराज: प्रतापवान् । उवाच सारथिं तूर्ण चोदयाश्वान् महाजवान्
sañjaya uvāca | tat prabhagnaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā madrarājaḥ pratāpavān | uvāca sārathiṃ tūrṇaṃ codayāśvān mahājavān ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that force thrown into disarray, the valiant king of Madra, famed for his prowess, addressed his charioteer at once: “Urge on the swift, high-speed horses.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya mode of action in crisis: when the army breaks, the leader seeks immediate tactical response. Ethically, it reflects how duty and ambition can propel escalation even amid evident ruin, illustrating the war’s inexorable momentum.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, the king of Madra, sees his side’s force in disarray and promptly instructs his charioteer to drive the swift horses—preparing to move rapidly into action on the battlefield.