Shloka 7
अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च
Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents
ते हन्यमाना: समरे नाजहु: पाण्डवं रणे । हन्यमाना महाराज शलभा इव पावकम्
te hanyamānāḥ samare nājahuḥ pāṇḍavaṃ raṇe | hanyamānā mahārāja śalabhā iva pāvakam ||
Sañjaya dijo: Aunque eran abatidos en la batalla, no abandonaron en el campo al hijo de Pāṇḍu (Arjuna). ¡Oh rey!, aun mientras eran muertos, se arrojaban sobre él como polillas que, aunque arden, se precipitan en el fuego.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, intense resolve and rage can drive fighters to persist even when it is clearly self-destructive—like moths drawn to flame. It implicitly warns that courage without discernment can become ruinous.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warriors facing Arjuna did not retreat from him even as they were being killed; instead, they continued to press the attack, compared to moths repeatedly rushing into fire.