Shloka 41
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
माननीय नरेश! चेकितान, शिखण्डी और द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र--आपकी विशाल सेनाका संहार करके शंख बजाने लगे ।। ते सर्वे तावकान प्रेक्ष्य द्रवतो वै पराड्मुखान् | अभ्यधावन्त निष्नन्तो वृषाञ्जित्वा वृषा इव
te sarve tāvakān prekṣya dravato vai parāṅmukhān | abhyadhāvanta niṣṇanto vṛṣāñ jitvā vṛṣā iva ||
Sañjaya said: “O revered king, Cekītāna, Śikhaṇḍī, and the five sons of Draupadī—having destroyed your vast army—began to blow their conches. Then, seeing your warriors fleeing with their backs turned, all of them charged forward, striking them down—like mighty bulls after overcoming rival bulls.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage in battle: turning one’s back and fleeing is portrayed as disgraceful, while resolute advance and protection of one’s side is praised through the image of powerful bulls overcoming rivals.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, seeing the Kaurava soldiers retreating, the opposing fighters surge forward and cut them down, compared to victorious bulls pressing their advantage after defeating other bulls.