Shloka 33
Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)
विद्रुतान् रथिनो दृष्टवा निरुत्साहान् द्विषज्जये । पलायनकृतोत्साहान् मन्ये शोचन्ति पुत्रका:,मेरे मनमें यह बात आती है कि अपने रथियोंको शत्रु-विजयकी ओरसे उत्साहशून्य होकर भागते और भागनेमें ही बहादुरी दिखाते देख मेरे पुत्र शोक कर रहे होंगे
vidrutān rathino dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān dviṣajjaye | palāyanakṛtotsāhān manye śocanti putrakāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the chariot-warriors fleeing—spiritless for victory over the foe, and showing their ‘valor’ only in the act of running away—I think your sons are grieving. The scene exposes how, when courage is severed from righteous purpose, even martial energy collapses into shame and sorrow.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse that occurs when the aim of battle (victory grounded in duty and resolve) is replaced by fear: energy that should serve righteous effort becomes misdirected into flight, producing shame and grief for leaders and kin.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava chariot-warriors are retreating in a dispirited state, and he infers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons are sorrowing as they witness their forces abandon the prospect of defeating the enemy.