Shloka 26
द्विसाहस््रा: पातिता युद्धशौण्डा नानादेश्या: सुभृता: सत्यसंधा: । एकेन संख्ये नकुलेन कृत्ता जयेप्सुनानुत्तमचन्दनाड़्ा:
dvisāhasrāḥ pātitā yuddhaśauṇḍā nānādeśyāḥ subhṛtāḥ satyasaṃdhāḥ | ekena saṅkhye nakulena kṛttā jayepsunānuttamacandanāḍyāḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Dos mil guerreros curtidos en la guerra—procedentes de muchas regiones, bien pagados y bien mantenidos, fieles a su palabra empeñada—fueron abatidos en el fragor del combate por Nakula, él solo. Aunque ansiaban la victoria y estaban ungidos con el más fino sándalo, cayeron ante su poder.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how disciplined prowess and steadfast resolve in one warrior can rout even a numerically strong, well-equipped force; it also underscores the harsh ethical reality of war, where vows, resources, and confidence do not guarantee survival.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Nakula, fighting alone in the thick of battle, cut down two thousand enemy warriors who were experienced, drawn from many regions, and well-provisioned, even as they sought victory.