Shloka 3
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
निवृत्ता: सहसा योधास्तव पुत्रजयैषिण: । संनिवृत्तेषु तेष्वेवं युद्धभासीत् सुदारुणम्
sañjaya uvāca | nivṛttāḥ sahasā yodhās tava putra-jayaiṣiṇaḥ | saṃnivṛtteṣu teṣv evaṃ yuddham āsīt sudāruṇam ||
Sañjaya dit : Tes guerriers, animés du désir de la victoire de ton fils, se retournèrent soudain. Lorsqu’ils se furent ainsi rassemblés et revenus, le combat parmi eux s’embrasa en une bataille des plus terribles—farouche, chaotique, et mue davantage par la ferveur partisane que par un discernement paisible.
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.