Shloka 2
Ritual Acclamation at Hastināpura and Karṇa’s Vow Concerning Arjuna (राजकीय स्तुति-प्रसङ्गः कर्णप्रतिज्ञा च)
तान् दृष्टवा द्रवतः सर्वान् धार्तराष्ट्रानू पराड्मुखान् । दुर्योधनो महाराजो नासीत् तत्र पराड्मुख:,धृतराष्ट्रके सभी पुत्रोंको युद्धसे पीठ दिखाकर भागते देखकर भी राजा दुर्योधन स्वयं वहीं डटा रहा। उसने पीठ नहीं दिखायी
tān dṛṣṭvā dravataḥ sarvān dhārtarāṣṭrān parāṅmukhān | duryodhano mahārājo nāsīt tatra parāṅmukhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra fleeing with their backs turned, King Duryodhana alone did not turn away there. Even as his own side broke and ran, he stood his ground, refusing to show his back in battle—an image of steadfast courage, though placed in the service of an unrighteous cause.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield steadfastness as a kṣatriya ideal—refusing to turn one’s back—while implicitly inviting ethical reflection: personal courage can be admirable in form yet morally compromised when aligned with an unrighteous cause.
As the Kaurava side (Dhārtarāṣṭras) breaks and flees, Duryodhana is singled out as remaining on the field, not becoming parāṅmukha (not turning his back), thereby contrasting his resolve with the panic of his followers.