Shloka 743
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा वीरा घ्नन्ति शत्रूनू सहस्रश: । 'भीमसेनके बाणोंसे हतोत्साह होकर भागनेवाले कौरवमहारथियों तथा सहस्रों शत्रुओंको धृष्टद्युम्न आदि वीर मार रहे हैं
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhā vīrā ghnanti śatrūn sahasraśaḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。「ドリシュタデュムナを先頭に、勇士たちは敵を幾千と斬り伏せている。ビーマセーナの矢に気勢を砕かれたクル族の大車戦士たちは逃走に転じ、乱れて退くその背を、ドリシュタデュムナら諸英雄が先陣の強者も密集した隊列もろとも討ち倒す——戦において、決意の崩れはたちまち破滅となることを示している。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of kshatriya warfare, steadfastness (dhairya) is decisive: when courage collapses and warriors turn their backs, defeat becomes inevitable and the fleeing side suffers heavy loss. The verse highlights the moral-psychological dimension of battle—resolve sustains dharma in action, while panic accelerates destruction.
Sanjaya reports that Dhrishtadyumna and other Pandava heroes are cutting down enemies in vast numbers. The Kaurava maharathas, demoralized by Bhima’s arrows, begin to flee, and in that retreat they are further slain by the Pandava vanguard.