Shloka 496
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
अशवनुवन् प्रमुखत:ः स्थातुं कर्णस्य दुर्मना: । युधिष्ठिरका पृष्ठरक्षक पहले ही मार दिया गया था। उनका मन बहुत दुःखी था, इसलिये वे कर्णके सामने ठहर न सके और युद्धस्थलसे हट गये
aśvanuvan pramukhataḥ sthātuṃ karṇasya durmanāḥ | yudhiṣṭhirakāḥ pṛṣṭharakṣakaḥ pūrvam eva māritaḥ | tasya manaḥ bahu duḥkhitaṃ tasmāt sa karṇasya sammukhe sthātuṃ na śaśāka yuddhasthalāt apasasarja ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Con el ánimo quebrantado, no pudo mantenerse en pie frente a Karṇa. La retaguardia de Yudhiṣṭhira ya había sido abatida; el duelo pesaba con fuerza sobre su corazón. Por ello no logró sostener su posición ante Karṇa y se retiró del campo de batalla—mostrando cómo, en la guerra, la pérdida de protectores y compañeros puede sacudir incluso la resolución de un rey justo.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of warfare: even a dharmic ruler can falter when protective support is lost and grief overwhelms the mind. It suggests that steadfastness in duty depends not only on personal virtue but also on circumstances, companions, and mental resilience.
Sanjaya reports that Yudhishthira, distressed because his rear-guard/protector had already been killed, could not stand directly against Karna. Overcome with sorrow, he withdrew from the battlefield instead of facing Karna in that moment.