Shloka 58
यैस्तु दुःशासन: सार्ध रथै: पूर्व न्यवर्तत । ते भीतास्त्वभ्यधावन्त सर्वे द्रोणरथं प्रति,पहले दुःशासन जिन रथियोंके साथ लौटा था, वे सब-के-सब भयभीत होकर द्रोणाचार्यके रथकी ओर भाग गये
yaiḥ tu duḥśāsanaḥ sārdhaṃ rathaiḥ pūrvaṃ nyavartata | te bhītās tv abhyadhāvanta sarve droṇarathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: Those chariot-warriors with whom Duḥśāsana had earlier withdrawn now, seized by fear, all ran toward Droṇācārya’s chariot. The scene underscores how, in the press of battle, men abandon their own resolve and seek shelter behind a commander’s strength when courage fails.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological truth of war: when fear overwhelms, people seek protection under a powerful leader rather than standing by their earlier resolve. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of steadfast kṣatriya courage with the human tendency to look for shelter when confidence collapses.
After Duḥśāsana had earlier withdrawn along with certain chariot-warriors, those same fighters become frightened and rush collectively toward Droṇācārya’s chariot, treating Droṇa as their immediate refuge and rallying point in the battle.