Shloka 9
Ritual Acclamation at Hastināpura and Karṇa’s Vow Concerning Arjuna (राजकीय स्तुति-प्रसङ्गः कर्णप्रतिज्ञा च)
सैन्यं तद् धार्तराष्ट्रस्य गन्धर्वै: समभिद्रुतम् । पूर्व प्रभग्ना: सहिता: पाण्डवानभ्ययुस्तदा,गन्धवॉने दुर्योधनकी सारी सेनाको मार भगाया था। वह सेना तथा उसके वे सैनिक, जो पहलेसे ही मैदान छोड़कर भाग गये थे, सब एक साथ पाण्डवोंकी शरणमें गये
sainyaṁ tad dhārtarāṣṭrasya gandharvaiḥ samabhidrutam | pūrvaṁ prabhagnāḥ sahitāḥ pāṇḍavān abhyayus tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The army of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons was fiercely assailed by the Gandharvas. Then those troops—already broken and scattered earlier—gathered together and went to the Pāṇḍavas for refuge.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and pride are unstable: when one acts from adharma and hostility, circumstances can swiftly reverse, forcing even aggressors to seek shelter from those they opposed. The verse highlights the ethical irony of enemies becoming protectors and the moral consequence of arrogance.
The Gandharvas overwhelm and rout the Kaurava (Dhārtarāṣṭra) army. The scattered troops regroup and, unable to withstand the Gandharvas, approach the Pāṇḍavas for protection.