Shloka 13
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
दृष्टवैव पार्थेन हतं च नागं योधांश्व सर्वान् द्रवतो निशम्य । रथं समावृत्य कुरुप्रवीरो रणात् प्रदुद्राव यतो न पार्थ:
dṛṣṭvaiva pārthena hataṃ ca nāgaṃ yodhāṃś ca sarvān dravato niśamya | rathaṃ samāvṛtya kurupravīro raṇāt pradudrāva yato na pārthaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Al ver que el elefante había sido muerto por Pārtha y al oír que todos los guerreros huían, el principal héroe de los Kurus también dio vuelta a su carro y escapó del campo de batalla, conduciendo hacia el lado donde Pārtha (Arjuna) no estaba. La escena subraya cómo el miedo y el instinto de preservación pueden eclipsar el código del guerrero cuando se enfrenta una superioridad innegable en combate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension within kṣatriya-dharma: valor and steadfastness are praised, yet in the face of overwhelming prowess and collapsing morale, even a leading warrior chooses flight. It illustrates how fear and strategic self-preservation can override ideals of heroic conduct, inviting reflection on the fragility of resolve in war.
After Arjuna (Pārtha) kills a great elephant and the rest of the fighters begin to flee, Duryodhana—described as the foremost Kuru hero—turns his chariot away and escapes from the battlefield, deliberately choosing a direction where Arjuna is not present.