Shloka 24
दुःशासननिग्रहः—द्रोणधृष्टद्युम्नयुद्धप्रसङ्गः
Rebuke of Duḥśāsana; Context of the Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna Combat
शकुनि: पाण्डुपुत्राभ्यां कृत: स विमुख: शरै: । न सम जानाति कर्तुाव्यं युद्धे किंचित् पराक्रमम्,पाण्डुकुमार नकुल और सहदेवने अपने बाणोंद्वारा शकुनिको युद्धसे विमुख कर दिया। उस समय उसे युद्धविषयक कर्तव्यका ज्ञान न रहा और न कुछ पराक्रमका ही भान हुआ
śakuniḥ pāṇḍuputrābhyāṃ kṛtaḥ sa vimukhaḥ śaraiḥ | na sama jānāti kartavyaṃ yuddhe kiṃcit parākramam ||
Dipukul oleh anak panah kedua putra Pandu, Nakula dan Sahadeva, Shakuni dipaksa mundur dari pertempuran. Pada saat itu ia tak lagi tahu apa kewajiban dalam perang, dan lenyap pula rasa gagah-beraninya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, mere physical injury is not the only defeat: when clarity about kartavya (what must be done) collapses, courage and effective action also fail. The verse highlights how dharma in battle requires steadiness of judgment; losing composure leads to loss of prowess.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula and Sahadeva strike Śakuni with arrows so forcefully that he turns away from the fight. Overwhelmed, Śakuni momentarily loses awareness of his battlefield duty and cannot display valor.