Shloka 453
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
शरैरनेकसाहसैर्वारियामास संयुगे । उन सबको युद्धसे उदासीन देख प्रतापी माद्रीकुमार सहदेवने अनेक सहस्र बाणोंकी वर्षा करके उन्हें युद्धस्थलमें ही रोक दिया
sañjaya uvāca | śarair aneka-sāhasair vāriyāmāsa saṃyuge |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, he checked them with many thousands of arrows. Seeing those warriors turning indifferent to the fight, the valiant Sahadeva, son of Mādrī, poured forth a rain of countless shafts and held them fast upon the battlefield—compelling them to face their duty as combatants rather than lapse into disengagement amid war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a dharma-framed war, neutrality or withdrawal at a critical moment can become a form of adharma; Sahadeva’s action symbolizes enforcing responsibility and steadiness in one’s appointed role (kṣatriya-dharma) when the situation demands engagement.
Sañjaya reports that Sahadeva, seeing opposing fighters become disengaged from the battle, unleashes a massive volley of arrows to stop and pin them in place on the battlefield, preventing their movement and forcing continued confrontation.