Shloka 23
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
प्राणान् जहाति यो धीरो युद्धे पृष्ठमदर्शयन् । उन सबको भागते देख राजा दुर्योधनने इस प्रकार कहा--“अरे पापियो! लौट आओ और युद्ध करो। भागनेसे तुम्हें क्या लाभ होगा? जो धीर वीर रणभूमिमें पीठ न दिखाकर प्राणोंका परित्याग करता है, वह इस लोकमें अपनी कीर्ति स्थापित करके मृत्युके पश्चात् उत्तम लोकोंमें सुख भोगता है” || २१-२२ $ ।। एवमुक्तास्तु ते राज्ञा सौबलस्य पदानुगा:
prāṇān jahāti yo dhīro yuddhe pṛṣṭham adarśayan | evam uktās tu te rājñā saubalasya padānugāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “The steadfast man who gives up his life in battle without showing his back (i.e., without turning to flee) establishes his fame in this world and, after death, enjoys happiness in higher realms.” Thus addressed by the king, those who were following the lead of Śakuni (the son of Subala) …
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage upholds the kṣatriya ideal: a warrior should not flee or show his back in battle; dying steadfastly is portrayed as bringing worldly fame (kīrti) and a favorable posthumous destiny.
In Sañjaya’s narration, Duryodhana is exhorting warriors who are running away to return and fight; the verse frames the ethical appeal—honor in battle and reward after death—and then notes that those aligned with Śakuni are being addressed.