Shloka 4
कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः
Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array
हतप्रवरसैन्यं मे यथा शंससि संजय । अहतानपि मे शंस ये>5त्र जीवन्ति केचन
hatapravarasainyaṁ me yathā śaṁsasi sañjaya | ahatān api me śaṁsa ye 'tra jīvanti kecana ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Sañjaya, de même que tu rapportes que les héros les plus éminents de mon armée ont été tués, dis-moi aussi lesquels n’ont pas été frappés : qui, parmi eux, vit encore ici. Fais-moi connaître les guerriers illustres qui demeurent en vie dans cette troupe.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychology of attachment in war: even after hearing of catastrophic losses, Dhṛtarāṣṭra clings to the hope of remaining strength and seeks a precise accounting. It underscores how grief and desire for control drive a ruler to measure survival and loss rather than reflect on the ethical causes of the conflict.
After being told that leading warriors of his side have been killed, Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya to name those who are still alive among the Kaurava forces, requesting an introduction to any eminent survivors remaining on the battlefield.