Shloka 5
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
ते चापि कौरवीं सेनां निमेषार्धात् कुरूद्वह । क्षपयेयुर्महाबाहो न स्याम यदि संयुगे,“महाबाहु कुरुश्रेष्ठ) यदि युद्धस्थलमें हमलोग न रहें, तो पाण्डव भी आधे निमेषयमें ही कौरव-सेनाका संहार कर सकते हैं
te cāpi kauravīṁ senāṁ nimeṣārdhāt kurūdvaha | kṣapayeyur mahābāho na syāma yadi saṁyuge ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô le meilleur des Kurus, ô toi aux bras puissants—si nous n’étions pas présents au combat, alors les Pāṇḍava eux aussi pourraient détruire l’armée des Kaurava en un demi-battement de paupières.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the decisive impact of capable warriors and leadership in war: without certain defenders present, even a vast army can collapse almost instantly. Ethically, it hints at the fragility of adharma-based power—numerical strength alone cannot secure victory when opposed by superior valor and resolve.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing how formidable the Pāṇḍavas are. He states that if ‘we’ (the key Kaurava fighters/defenders) were not on the battlefield, the Pāṇḍavas could annihilate the Kaurava host in an instant, highlighting the crisis and intensity of the ongoing combat.