Shloka 1
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
अत-#--#क्रतज चतुर्विशो$ध्याय: श्रीकृष्णके सम्मुख अर्जुनद्वारा दुर्योधनके दुराग्रहकी निन्दा और रथियोंकी सेनाका संहार संजय उवाच तस्मिन् शब्दे मृदौ जाते पाण्डवैर्निहते बले । अश्लैः सप्तशतै: शिष्टैरुपावर्तत सौबल:
sañjaya uvāca | tasmin śabde mṛdau jāte pāṇḍavair nihate bale | aśvaiḥ saptśataiḥ śiṣṭair upāvartata saubalaḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。王よ、パーンダヴァが軍勢の大半を討ち滅ぼし、戦の喧噪が鎮まったとき、スバラの子シャクニは引き返し、なお残る七百の騎兵を率いてクル族の軍へ近づいた——崩れゆく大義が、それでも最後の規律ある残兵にすがりつく姿であり、強情がもたらした道義の瓦礫のただ中にあった。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the inevitable weakening of an unrighteous cause: when adharma-driven obstinacy leads to ruin, only a small, disciplined remnant remains, and even skilled agents like Śakuni are reduced to regrouping amid collapse.
After the Pāṇḍavas have slaughtered much of the opposing force and the battlefield uproar quiets, Śakuni (son of Subala) approaches the Kaurava side accompanied by the remaining seven hundred cavalry.