Shloka 23
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें संकुलयुद्धविषयक तेईसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
mūḍhāṁs tu sarvathā manye dhārtarāṣṭrān subāliśān | patite śāntanoḥ putre ye ’kārṣuḥ saṁyugaṁ punaḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。「私は、ドリタラーシュトラの息子たちを、まことに迷妄に沈んだ愚者と見なす。というのも、シャーンタヌの子（ビーシュマ）が倒れた後でさえ、彼らは再び戦いを続けることを選んだからだ。」この言葉には道義的な譴責がある。尊ばれる長老にしてダルマの守護者が倒れたのちも暴力に固執するのは、忠告と帰結、そして正しい自制への盲目を示す。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns obstinate continuation of violence even after a decisive moral and strategic turning point—the fall of Bhīṣma. It highlights how delusion (mūḍhatā) and childish judgment (subāliśatā) can override prudence, reverence for elders, and dharmic restraint.
Sanjaya reports his assessment to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: the Kauravas persisted in fighting even after Bhīṣma—Śāntanu’s son and the great pillar of their cause—had fallen. This frames the Kaurava resolve as misguided and ethically blameworthy.