Shloka 91
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
युयुत्युर्वाच निहते शकुनौ तत्र सज्ञातिसुतबान्धवे
sañjaya uvāca | nihate śakunau tatra sa-jñāti-suta-bāndhave dūryodhanaḥ | aśvaṃ raṇa-bhūmau eva parityajya bhayāt pūrva-diśaṃ prādravat ||
Sañjaya said: “When Śakuni was slain there—along with his kinsmen, sons, and allies—King Duryodhana, seeing his remaining support shattered, abandoned his horse on the battlefield itself and, driven by fear, fled toward the eastern direction.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical consequence of adharma: when one’s power is built on deceitful counsel and unstable bonds, it collapses in crisis, and fear replaces courage. It implicitly contrasts true kṣātra steadiness with panic born of moral and strategic ruin.
After Śakuni is killed along with his supporting circle of relatives and allies, Duryodhana—now bereft of that backing—abandons his horse on the battlefield and flees eastward in fear.