Shloka 49
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
सैन्धवाभिमुखं यान्तं योधा: सम्प्रेक्ष्य पाण्डवम् । न्यवर्तन्त रणाद् वीरा निराशास्तस्य जीविते,साथ ही उसे झुकी हुई गाँठवाले चौंसठ बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया। पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको सिंधुराजके सम्मुख जाते देख हमारे पक्षके वीर योद्धा उसके जीवनसे निराश होकर युद्धसे निवृत्त हो गये
saindhavābhimukhaṁ yāntaṁ yodhāḥ samprekṣya pāṇḍavam | nyavartanta raṇād vīrā nirāśās tasya jīvite ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Pāṇḍava warrior advancing straight toward Saindhava (Jayadratha), the brave fighters on our side withdrew from the battle, having lost hope that he would survive. The moment underscores the grim moral atmosphere of war: when a combatant’s intent and momentum appear irresistible, even seasoned warriors may abandon engagement, not from lack of duty alone but from the stark calculation of life and death on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield dharma is tested by fear and perceived inevitability: when a warrior’s advance seems unstoppable, others may abandon the fight, revealing the fragile line between valor and survival-driven retreat.
Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) is seen moving directly toward Jayadratha (Saindhava). Observing this, Kaurava-side heroes withdraw from combat, believing Arjuna’s charge makes his survival unlikely in the immediate clash.