Shloka 3
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
निवृत्ता: सहसा योधास्तव पुत्रजयैषिण: । संनिवृत्तेषु तेष्वेवं युद्धभासीत् सुदारुणम्,यह देख आपके पुत्रकी विजय चाहनेवाले योद्धा सहसा लौट पड़े। इस प्रकार उनके लौटनेपर उन सबमें अत्यन्त भयंकर युद्ध होने लगा
sañjaya uvāca | nivṛttāḥ sahasā yodhās tava putra-jayaiṣiṇaḥ | saṃnivṛtteṣu teṣv evaṃ yuddham āsīt sudāruṇam ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Tus guerreros, movidos por el deseo de la victoria de tu hijo, se volvieron de pronto. Cuando así se reagruparon y regresaron, la lucha entre ellos se encendió en una batalla de lo más atroz—feroz, caótica, y empujada más por el ardor de partido que por el juicio sereno.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment to a partisan outcome—here, the craving for the prince’s victory—can intensify violence and cloud judgment. It implicitly contrasts impulsive zeal with steadiness and discernment, showing how desire-driven action can escalate conflict into something 'sudāruṇa' (most dreadful).
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Kaurava fighters, intent on securing his son’s victory, abruptly turned back (regrouped/returned), and as a result the combat surged into an exceptionally fierce and terrifying engagement.