Shloka 94
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
ततो राज्ञ: कलत्राणि भ्रातृणां चास्य सर्वतः | वाहनेषु समारोप्य अध्यक्षा: प्राद्रवन्ू भयात्,तब राजा तथा उनके भाइयोंकी पत्नियोंकों सब ओरसे सवारियोंपर बिठाकर अन्तःपुरके अध्यक्ष भी भयके मारे भाग खड़े हुए
tato rājñaḥ kalatrāṇi bhrātṝṇāṁ cāsya sarvataḥ | vāhaneṣu samāropya adhyakṣāḥ prādravan bhayāt ||
Sañjaya said: Then, placing the king’s wives and also the wives of his brothers on vehicles from every side, the supervisors of the inner apartments fled in panic out of fear. The scene underscores how, when war’s terror breaches the palace, even those charged with protection abandon duty and seek safety.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In moments of extreme danger, fear can overpower institutional duty: even palace officials tasked with safeguarding the inner quarters may abandon responsibility. The verse implicitly contrasts dharma (steadfast protection of dependents) with the human impulse toward self-preservation under the shock of war.
Sañjaya describes a sudden flight within the royal household: the king’s wives and the wives of his brothers are hurriedly put onto conveyances, while the overseers of the inner palace run away in fear, indicating panic and breakdown of order amid the surrounding conflict.