Shloka 12
Adhyāya 140: Rātriyuddhe Droṇa-prāpti-prayatnaḥ
Night engagement and the attempt to reach Droṇa
ते शूरा हतभूयिष्ठा हताश्चरथवारणा: । उत्सृज्य भीमकर्णो च सर्वतो व्यद्रवन् दिश:,वे शूरवीर सैनिक जिनमें बहुत-से लोग मारे गये थे तथा जिनके हाथी, घोड़े और रथ नष्ट हो चुके थे, भीमसेन और कर्णको छोड़कर सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें भाग गये
te śūrā hatabhūyiṣṭhā hatāś ca rathavāraṇāḥ | utsṛjya bhīmakarṇau ca sarvato vyadravan diśaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Para kesatria itu—kebanyakan telah tewas, kereta dan gajah mereka hancur, dan harapan mereka patah—lari ke segala penjuru, meninggalkan bahkan Bhīma dan Karṇa di tengah kekacauan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of courage when collective morale and material supports collapse: in war, ethical steadiness and disciplined loyalty are tested, and many abandon comrades when fear overwhelms duty.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield rout: many warriors, largely decimated and with their chariots and elephants destroyed, flee in all directions, leaving behind even prominent fighters Bhīma and Karṇa.