Shloka 10
जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha
Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition
रथैरविंपरिधावद्धिर्गजैरश्वैश्न॒ सारथे | कौशेयारुणसंकाशमेतदुद्धूयते रज:,'सारथे! उन्हीं महात्मा अर्जुनकी खदेड़ी हुई वह सेना इधर-उधर भाग रही है। दौड़ते हुए रथों, हाथियों और घोड़ोंसे लाल रेशमके समान यह धूल ऊपरको उठ रही है
sañjaya uvāca | rathair aviṁparidhāvaddhir gajair aśvaiś ca sārathi | kauśeyāruṇa-saṅkāśam etad uddhūyate rajaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O charioteer, as chariots, elephants, and horses race about, a cloud of dust is being hurled upward—its hue like reddish silk. Thus the army, driven hard by the great-souled Arjuna, is scattering and fleeing in all directions.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral-psychological reality of war: when a force is overpowered by superior skill and resolve, fear spreads and order collapses. It implicitly contrasts disciplined courage with panic-driven flight, reminding readers that adharma and confusion often manifest as disarray on the battlefield.
Sañjaya describes to the listener how Arjuna’s onslaught has driven the opposing troops into retreat. The rapid movement of chariots, elephants, and horses throws up a dust-cloud that looks reddish like silk, visually marking the chaos and the army’s scattering.