Mahabharata 7.203.2 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 203, Shloka 2
ततस्ते सैनिका राजन् नैव तत्रावतस्थिरे । संस्थाप्यमाना यत्नेन गोविन्देनारजुनेन च,नरेश्वर! श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनके द्वारा प्रयत्नपूर्वक ठहराये जानेपर भी वे सैनिक वहाँ खड़े न हो सके
tatas te sainikā rājan naiva tatrāvatasthire | saṃsthāpyamānā yatnena govindenārjunena ca ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces, oh rey, aquellos soldados no pudieron mantenerse allí en absoluto. Aunque Govinda (Krishna) y Arjuna se esforzaron por afirmarlos y recomponer sus filas, no lograron sostenerse firmes.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war and in ethical struggle, mere command or external support may not suffice when inner resolve collapses. Even exemplary leaders (Krishna and Arjuna) cannot make a force stand if fear and disarray have overtaken it—pointing to the primacy of courage, discipline, and steadiness (dhairya) in upholding one’s duty.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the king’s soldiers failed to maintain their position. Despite Krishna (Govinda) and Arjuna actively trying to rally and re-form them, the troops could not be stabilized and did not stand their ground.
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