Shloka 24
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
दृष्टवा तु हतविक्रान्तं स््वमनीक॑ महाबल: । तव पुत्रो महाराज प्रययौ यत्र सौबल:,महाराज! अपनी सेनाका पराक्रम नष्ट हुआ देख आपका महाबली पुत्र दुर्योधन वहीं चला गया, जहाँ सुबलपुत्र शकुनि खड़ा था
dṛṣṭvā tu hatavikrāntaṃ svam anīkaṃ mahābalaḥ | tava putro mahārāja prayayau yatra saubalaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his own battle-array robbed of its former prowess, your mighty son, O King, went to the place where Saubala (Śakuni) was standing. The verse underscores a moment of strategic retreat and counsel-seeking: when force falters, the leader turns toward the architect of policy and intrigue, revealing the Kaurava dependence on calculated advice rather than steadfast dharmic resolve.
संजय उवाच