Shloka 39
भीमसेन-धृष्टद्युम्नयोर्वाक्यं
Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s Speeches on Kṣātra-Dharma
दृष्टवा विमूढं हैडिम्बं सारथिस्तु रणाजिरात् | द्रौणे: सकाशात् सम्भ्रान्तस्त्वपनिन्ये त्वरान्वितः,हिडिम्बाकुमारको मूर्च्छित देख उसका सारथि घबरा गया और तुरंत ही उसे समरांगणसे, विशेषत: अश्वत्थामाके निकटसे दूर हटा ले गया
dṛṣṭvā vimūḍhaṃ haiḍimbaṃ sārathis tu raṇājirāt | drauṇeḥ sakāśāt sambhrāntas tv apaninye tvarānvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Haiḍimba’s son lying senseless, his charioteer—panic-stricken—quickly drove him away from the battlefield, pulling him back in haste, especially from the vicinity of Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāmā). The scene underscores how, amid the moral chaos of war, fear and the instinct to preserve life can override pride and aggression, forcing even combatants to retreat when confronted with overwhelming danger.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical reality of war: when confronted with superior force and immediate peril, survival instincts and protective duty (here, the charioteer’s duty to preserve his rider) can compel retreat, revealing how fear and prudence operate alongside ideals of valor.
Sañjaya reports that Haiḍimba’s son has become senseless (fainted/overpowered). Seeing this, his charioteer panics and swiftly drives him away from the battlefield, specifically withdrawing him from near Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son).