Shloka 716
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
पज्चाला: पाण्डवै: सार्ध पृष्ठतोडनुययु: परान् । उन्हें जाते देख युधिष्ठिर आदि पाण्डवों तथा पांचालोंने भी शत्रुओंका पीछा किया
sañjaya uvāca | pañcālāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ pṛṣṭhato 'nuyayuḥ parān |
Sanjaya said: The Pañcālas, together with the Pāṇḍavas, pursued the enemy from behind. Seeing them depart, Yudhiṣṭhira and the other Pāṇḍavas, along with the Pañcālas, also gave chase—pressing the retreating foes in the continuing momentum of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores coordinated action among allies in war: when the opposing force retreats, the kṣatriya response is to maintain pressure and pursue, reflecting collective resolve and battlefield duty rather than personal hesitation.
Sanjaya reports that the Pañcālas and the Pāṇḍavas, including Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers, pursue the enemy from behind as the battle continues and the opposing side moves away.