Shloka 52
जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha
Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition
काम्बोजसैन्यं विद्राव्य दुर्जयं युधि भारत
kāmbojasainyaṁ vidrāvya durjayaṁ yudhi bhārata
Sañjaya said: Having routed the Kāmboja forces—formidable and hard to overcome in battle—(he advanced further), O Bhārata. The line underscores how, amid the moral strain of war, martial excellence is measured not only by strength but by the ability to break an enemy’s resolve and restore momentum to one’s side.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a wartime ethic where success is not merely defeating bodies but breaking the enemy’s capacity to continue—routing a formidable force. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension: martial duty and effectiveness on the battlefield coexist with the larger moral weight of violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kāmboja contingent—described as difficult to conquer—has been put to flight in battle, indicating a decisive tactical advantage gained at that moment.