Shloka 24
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
दृष्टवा तु हतविक्रान्तं स््वमनीक॑ महाबल: । तव पुत्रो महाराज प्रययौ यत्र सौबल:,महाराज! अपनी सेनाका पराक्रम नष्ट हुआ देख आपका महाबली पुत्र दुर्योधन वहीं चला गया, जहाँ सुबलपुत्र शकुनि खड़ा था
dṛṣṭvā tu hatavikrāntaṃ svam anīkaṃ mahābalaḥ | tava putro mahārāja prayayau yatra saubalaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his own battle-array robbed of its former prowess, your mighty son, O King, went to the place where Saubala (Śakuni) was standing. The verse marks a retreat to seek counsel: when force falters, the leader turns to the architect of policy and intrigue, revealing the Kauravas’ reliance on calculated advice rather than steadfast dharmic resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
When power and momentum collapse, a ruler’s next step reveals his inner compass: turning to wise, dharmic counsel can restore clarity, but turning to manipulative counsel deepens adharma. The verse highlights the Kaurava pattern of relying on Śakuni’s calculating guidance rather than self-restraint and righteous policy.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, seeing his own forces’ prowess shattered, moves toward Śakuni (called Saubala), presumably to confer and decide the next course of action amid the deteriorating battlefield situation.