Shloka 24
Bhīmasena–Drauṇi Mahāyuddha
Chariot Duel and Astra-Exchange
हतवीरतमा होषा धार्तराष्ट्री महाचमू: । फल्गुशेषा महाबाहो तृणैस्तुल्या मता मम,“महाबाहो! कौरवोंकी इस विशाल सेनाके प्रमुख वीर तो मारे जा चुके हैं। अब इसके तुच्छ सैनिक ही शेष रह गये हैं। इस समय तो यह मुझे तिनकोंके समान जान पड़ती है
hatavīratamā hoṣā dhārtarāṣṭrī mahācamūḥ | phalguśeṣā mahābāho tṛṇais tulyā matā mama ||
હે મહાબાહો! ધૃતરાષ્ટ્રપુત્રોની આ મહાચમૂ તેના શ્રેષ્ઠ વીરોથી વંચિત થઈ ગઈ છે; હવે માત્ર તુચ્છ અવશેષ રહ્યો છે. આ ક્ષણે તે મને તૃણ સમાન લાગે છે.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength in war is not merely numbers; it depends on capable leadership and the moral-psychological force of proven heroes. When the foremost champions fall, the remaining host—though large in appearance—can become ineffective, like straw before a strong wind.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Kaurava (Dhārtarāṣṭra) army has lost its principal warriors. Only insignificant troops remain, and Sanjaya judges the army to be as weak as straw at this stage of the battle.