Shloka 3
Pradyumna–Śālva Missile-Exchange at Saubha (Āraṇyaka Parva, Adhyāya 18)
तं॑ तथा मोहितं दृष्टवा सारथिर्जवनै्यै: । रणादपाहरत् तूर्ण शिक्षितो दारुकिस्तदा,दारुकका पुत्र प्रद्युम्नका सुशिक्षित सारथि था। वह प्रद्युम्नको इस प्रकार मूर्च्छित देख वेगशाली अअश्रोंद्वारा उन्हें तुरंत रणभूमिसे बाहर ले गया
taṁ tathā mohitaṁ dṛṣṭvā sārathir javanaiḥ | raṇād apāharat tūrṇaṁ śikṣito dārukis tadā ||
Seeing him thus bewildered and overcome, the charioteer—swift with his horses—quickly drew him away from the battlefield. At that time the charioteer, trained and skilled, acted with presence of mind, prioritizing the warrior’s preservation over reckless persistence in combat.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, dharma includes discernment: when a warrior is incapacitated or deluded, a responsible attendant should act to preserve life and restore capacity rather than enable futile or self-destructive fighting.
A trained charioteer observes his charge in a state of confusion/faintness and promptly removes him from the battlefield using swift horses, demonstrating skill and protective duty.