Shloka 796
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
दुर्योधनबलं सर्व पुनरासीत् पराड्मुखम् । राजन्! जब मद्रराज मारे गये और कृतवर्मा भी रथहीन हो गया, तब दुर्योधनकी सारी सेना पुनः युद्धसे मुँह मोड़कर भागने लगी
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhana-balaṃ sarvaṃ punar āsīt parāṅmukham | rājan, yadā madrarājaḥ māritaḥ gataḥ kṛtavarmā ca rathahīno 'bhavat, tadā duryodhanasya sarvā senā punar yuddhāt mukhaṃ nivartya palāyituṃ pravavṛte |
Sanjaya dijo: Oh rey, todo el ejército de Duryodhana volvió a apartarse del combate. Cuando el rey de Madra fue muerto y Kṛtavarmā quedó también sin carro, las fuerzas de Duryodhana perdieron el ánimo y, volviendo el rostro de la batalla, comenzaron a huir.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical truth that adharma-driven power often depends on fragile confidence: when key leaders fall, collective resolve collapses. It also reflects the Mahabharata’s recurring lesson that outcomes in war are shaped not only by strength but by righteousness, leadership, and the morale sustained by them.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that after the Madra king (Shalya) is slain and Kṛtavarmā loses his chariot, Duryodhana’s forces turn away from the battlefield and begin to flee, indicating a renewed rout and breakdown of the Kaurava battle line.