Shloka 61
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
हताश्वश्व ततस्तूर्ण वृषकस्य रथं ययौ । श्यालस्य ते महाराज तव पुत्रस्य पश्यत:,महाराज! तब घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर कृतवर्मा आपके पुत्रके देखते-देखते तुरंत ही आपके साले वृषकके रथपर सवार हो गया
hatāśvaśvaḥ tataḥ tūrṇaṁ vṛṣakasya rathaṁ yayau | śyālasya te mahārāja tava putrasya paśyataḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Lorsque ses chevaux eurent été tués, Kṛtavarman se rendit aussitôt au char de Vṛṣaka —ton beau-frère, ô roi— et y monta sous les yeux mêmes de ton fils. L’instant met en relief le pragmatisme du champ de bataille : pour préserver sa capacité de combattre, un guerrier s’assure sans délai d’un attelage, tandis que les liens de parenté et le regard du prince témoin alourdissent la portée morale de la scène.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war-narrative terms, the verse highlights the duty to remain effective in one’s role: when a chariot is disabled (horses killed), a warrior must promptly restore mobility. Ethically, it also frames action under scrutiny—choices made ‘in the presence’ of a prince carry added responsibility and reflect on loyalty and composure amid crisis.
Kṛtavarman’s chariot becomes unusable because its horses are killed. He immediately goes to and mounts the chariot of Vṛṣaka, identified as Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s brother-in-law, and this occurs while Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son is watching.