Shloka 513
जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha
Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition
जवमुनत्तममास्थाय सर्वतः प्राद्रवन् भयात् । महाराज! थोड़े-से यवन शेष रह गये थे, जो बड़ी कठिनाईसे अपने प्राण बचाये हुए थे। वे अपने समुदायसे भ्रष्ट होकर अचेत-से हो रहे थे। उन सभी कवचधारी यवनोंको युयुधानने युद्धस्थलमें जीत लिया था। वे हाथों और कोड़ोंसे अपने घोड़ोंको पीटते हुए उत्तम वेगका आश्रय ले चारों ओर भयके मारे भाग गये
sañjaya uvāca | javam anuttamam āsthāya sarvataḥ prādravan bhayāt | mahārāja! alpaśeṣā yavanāḥ kevalā avaśiṣṭā āsan, ye mahākaṣṭena prāṇān rakṣitavantaḥ | te svagaṇāt bhraṣṭāḥ prāyaśo 'cetasa iva babhūvuḥ | tān sarvān kavacadhāriṇaḥ yavanān yuyudhāno raṇabhūmau jitavān | te hastaiś ca kaśābhiś ca svāśvān tāḍayantaḥ, śreṣṭhavegam āśritya, bhayāt sarvato 'palāyanta |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, berlindung pada kecepatan tertinggi, mereka lari ke segala arah karena takut. Hanya sedikit Yavana yang tersisa—mereka yang dengan susah payah menyelamatkan nyawa; tercerai dari rombongannya, mereka seakan kehilangan kesadaran. Di medan laga Yuyudhāna telah menundukkan semua Yavana berzirah itu. Sambil memukul kuda mereka dengan tangan dan cambuk, mereka memilih lari secepatnya dan tercerai-berai ke segala penjuru, digiring oleh teror.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights a recurring epic ethic: when cohesion, courage, and clarity of mind collapse under fear, even armored warriors lose effectiveness. It implicitly contrasts disciplined valor (Yuyudhāna’s battlefield mastery) with panic-driven survival, showing how inner steadiness and organized conduct shape outcomes in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that only a few Yavana fighters remain after being beaten by Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki). Dispersed from their unit and nearly senseless with fear, they whip their horses to maximum speed and flee in all directions from the battlefield.