Shloka 163
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
वार्यमाणा ययुर्वेगात् पुत्रेण तव भारत । राजन्! भरतनन्दन! वे योद्धा युद्धमें सब ओर फैले हुए पाण्डवोंको देखकर आपके पुत्रके मना करनेपर भी वेगपूर्वक आगे बढ़ गये
vāryamāṇā yayur vegāt putreṇa tava bhārata | rājan bharatanandana ye yoddhā yuddhe sarvato vistaritān pāṇḍavān dṛṣṭvā tava putrasya nivāraṇe 'pi vegapūrvakam agre 'bhivavruḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, though restrained by your son, those warriors surged forward with force. O King, delight of the Bharatas—seeing the Pāṇḍavas spread out on all sides in the battle, they advanced impetuously despite your son’s attempts to hold them back, driven by the momentum of war rather than prudent restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, collective momentum and martial fervor can override counsel and command. Ethically it warns that leadership requires not only issuing restraint but also ensuring discipline—otherwise impulsiveness drives actions with grave consequences.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that certain warriors, even though Duryodhana tried to stop them, rushed forward when they saw the Pāṇḍava forces deployed all around, pressing into the fight with haste.