Shloka 57
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
पलायनकृतोत्साह: प्राद्रवद् येन वै वनम् । सैन्धवं त्वभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य पराक्रान्तं पलायने
palāyanakṛtotsāhaḥ prādravad yena vai vanam | saindhavaṃ tv abhisamprekṣya parākrāntaṃ palāyane
Vaiśampāyana said: He, whose resolve had turned wholly toward flight, ran off into the forest. But on seeing the Sindhu prince (Jayadratha) already set in motion to flee, the situation shifted into a pursuit of the cowardly retreat—highlighting how fear-driven escape invites disgrace and retaliation in the moral economy of the epic.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an epic ethic: fear-based flight (palāyana) is not merely tactical withdrawal but a moral failing that invites dishonor and pursuit; courage and accountability are expected, especially of a kṣatriya.
A figure runs into the forest with the intention of escaping; upon noticing the Sindhu prince (Jayadratha) also moving to flee, the scene frames a chase and the unraveling of the offender’s attempt to evade consequences.