Shloka 11

Devanagari script

तान्‌ दृष्टवा द्रवत:सर्वान्‌ धार्तराष्ट्रानू पराड्मुखान्‌

Transliteration

tān dṛṣṭvā dravataḥ sarvān dhārtarāṣṭrān parāṅmukhān

Translation

Melihat semua putra Dhṛtarāṣṭra lari tergesa-gesa dengan wajah berpaling, tampaklah seketika pembalikan nasib: ketakutan menelan keangkuhan, dan akibat pilihan mereka menjelma sebagai pelarian, bukan keteguhan.

Word by Word

तान्those (men)

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

द्रवत:running, fleeing

सर्वान्all

धार्तराष्ट्रान्the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra / the Kauravas

पराङ्मुखान्turned away, facing backward

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Dhārtarāṣṭras (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how inner disposition determines outward action: when courage and dharma-based resolve collapse, one turns away and flees. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with retreat born of fear, suggesting that earlier adharma or arrogance can culminate in loss of morale at critical moments.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that the Dhārtarāṣṭras are seen running away, turned back from the confrontation. The scene marks a shift in momentum—those aligned with Dhṛtarāṣṭra are in retreat rather than advancing.