Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 29
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
ततो हतं परैस्तत्र मद्रराजबलं तदा । दुर्योधनबलं दृष्टवा पुनरासीत् पराड्मुखम्,थोड़ी ही देरमें शत्रुओंने वहाँ मद्रराजकी सेनाका संहार कर डाला। यह देख दुर्योधनकी सेना पुनः पीठ दिखाकर भागने लगी
tato hataṃ parais tatra madrarājabalaṃ tadā | duryodhanabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā punar āsīt parāṅmukham ||
Sañjaya said: Then, right there, the enemy forces slew the army of the king of Madra. Seeing that, Duryodhana’s troops once again turned their backs and fled.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical and strategic lesson of war: when allied support collapses, even a large force can lose courage and abandon its duty. It implicitly contrasts steadfast kṣatriya resolve with the shame of turning one’s back (parāṅmukha) under pressure.
Sañjaya reports that the enemy quickly annihilates the Madra king’s contingent; witnessing this, Duryodhana’s troops lose heart and again flee from the battlefield.
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