Shloka 18
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
ततो दशसहस्राणि न्यवर्तन्त धनुष्मताम् | मतिं कृत्वा रणे क्रूरां वीरा जयपराजये,तदनन्तर दस हजार धनुर्धर वीर जय अथवा पराजयके हेतुभूत युद्धका क्रूरतापूर्ण निश्चय करके लौट आये
tato daśasahasrāṇi nyavartanta dhanuṣmatām | matiṁ kṛtvā raṇe krūrāṁ vīrā jayaparājaye ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu sepuluh ribu pemanah mundur. Dengan meneguhkan tekad yang keras di medan laga—terpancang pada menang atau kalah—mereka berbalik, siap mempertaruhkan segalanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological and ethical tension of war: warriors deliberately harden their minds to act amid cruelty, accepting that outcomes are binary—victory or defeat—while still choosing to commit themselves to the battle’s demands.
Sañjaya reports a troop movement: ten thousand archers withdraw/turn back after forming a fierce resolve for combat, indicating regrouping or repositioning with renewed determination to fight for either victory or an honorable defeat.