Shloka 24
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् । राजा दुर्योधनके ऐसा कहनेपर सुबलपुत्र शकुनिके पीछे चलनेवाले सैनिक “अब हमें मृत्यु ही युद्धसे लौटा सकती है” ऐसा संकल्प लेकर पुन: पाण्डवोंपर टूट पड़े ।।
pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam | rājā duryodhanake evaṃ kahanepara subalaputraśakuneḥ pīche calanevāle sainikāḥ “adya asmān mṛtyur eva yuddhāt nivartayiṣyati” iti saṅkalpya punaḥ pāṇḍaveṣu parāṅmukhāḥ pratyapatanta || dravadbhis tatra rājendra kṛtaḥ śabdo ’tidāruṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: Spurred on by King Duryodhana’s words, the troops who followed Śakuni, son of Subala, turned again upon the Pandavas, resolved that only death could make them withdraw from the battle. There, O king, as men fled and surged in confusion, a most dreadful roar arose.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how leadership and rhetoric can harden collective resolve into fatalistic extremity—where retreat is rejected and death is accepted as the only limit—raising ethical tension between valor (kṣātra-dharma) and the destructive momentum of war.
After Duryodhana’s exhortation, Shakuni’s followers renew their assault on the Pandavas, vowing not to withdraw except by death; amid the rush and flight of men, a terrifying din rises on the battlefield.