Shloka 194
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
यदाओष॑ श्रान्तहये धनज्जये मुक्त्वा हयान् पाययित्वोपवृत्तान् | पुनर्युक्त्वा वासुदेवं प्रयातं तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,युद्धभूमिमें धनज्जय अर्जुनके घोड़े अत्यन्त श्रान्त और प्याससे व्याकुल हो रहे थे। स्वयं श्रीकृष्णने उन्हें रथसे खोलकर पानी पिलाया। फिरसे रथके निकट लाकर उन्हें जोत दिया और अर्जुनसहित वे सकुशल लौट गये। जब मैंने यह बात सुनी, संजय! तभी मेरी विजयकी आशा समाप्त हो गयी
yadāśu śrāntahaye dhanañjaye muktvā hayān pāyayitvopavṛttān | punar yuktvā vāsudevaṃ prayātaṃ tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya sañjaya ||
When Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) had horses that were quickly exhausted, Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) unyoked them, gave them water, and let them recover. Then, yoking them again, he set out and returned safely with Arjuna. Hearing of this, O Sañjaya, I lost all hope of victory—for it revealed the steadfast care, competence, and devoted support that stood behind Arjuna in battle.
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic leadership through attentive service: Kṛṣṇa’s practical care for the horses and orderly return underscores that victory depends not only on heroism but also on disciplined support, competence, and steadfast devotion to one’s duty.
Arjuna’s horses become exhausted and thirsty in the midst of battle. Kṛṣṇa unyokes them, gives them water, lets them recover, then harnesses them again and returns safely with Arjuna. On hearing this, the speaker tells Sañjaya that his hope of victory has ended.