Shloka 186
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
नन्दोपनन्दौ समरे प्रैषयद् यमसादनम् । उनकी सेना चंचल हो उठी। फिर महाबली भीमसेनने समरांगणमें नन्द और उपनन्दको भी यमलोक भेज दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
nandopanandau samare praiṣayad yamasādanam |
Sanjaya said: In the thick of battle, Bhimasena dispatched Nanda and Upananda to the abode of Yama (death). Seeing their fall, their troops wavered and became unsteady—an image of how, in war, the collapse of key warriors can swiftly shake the morale and cohesion of an entire force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahabharata insight: in warfare, the fall of prominent leaders rapidly destabilizes collective resolve. Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kshatriya-dharma on the battlefield—victory and survival often hinge on decisive action against key opponents, even as the human cost is starkly acknowledged through the image of 'Yama’s abode.'
Sanjaya reports that Bhimasena, fighting fiercely, kills (or decisively defeats) the warriors Nanda and Upananda, poetically described as sending them to Yama’s dwelling. Their side’s army then becomes shaken and unsteady, indicating a sudden drop in morale after the loss of these fighters.