Shloka 326
Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
जवेनाभ्यपतत् तूर्ण सर्वाश्वैको न्न्यवारयत् । दुर्योधन अपनी सेनाको निकटसे भागती देख बड़े वेगसे शत्रुओंपर टूट पड़ा और उन सबको अकेले ही शीघ्रतापूर्वक रोकने लगा
sañjaya uvāca | javena abhyapatat tūrṇaṁ sarvāśvaiḥ eko nyavārayat |
Sañjaya said: Seeing his own army fleeing at close quarters, Duryodhana rushed forward with great speed against the enemy and, though alone, swiftly checked them all with his chariot and horses. The moment underscores the warrior-king’s resolve to halt panic and restore order, even at personal risk, in the midst of a collapsing battle-line.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a moment of collective panic, a leader’s duty is to restrain disorder and re-establish steadiness. The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: facing danger directly to prevent the collapse of one’s forces, even when support is lacking.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, seeing his troops fleeing nearby, charges rapidly toward the opposing side and single-handedly checks them—using his chariot and horses to block, rally, and halt the rout.