Shloka 8
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
दुद्रुवु: केचिदुत्सृज्य तत्र तत्र विशाम्पते । बहवोऊत्र भृशं विद्धा मुहामाना महारथा:
sañjaya uvāca |
dudruvuḥ kecid utsṛjya tatra tatra viśāmpate |
bahavo 'tra bhṛśaṃ viddhā muhyamānā mahārathāḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った。「民の主よ、ある者は恐慌して、あちらこちらで持ち場を捨てて逃げ去った。多くの大車戦士は、アルジュナの矢に深く貫かれ、その衝撃に圧されて意識を失いかけていた。この光景は、恐れと痛みが心を覆うとき、たとえ剛勇の者であっても義務を忘れ、散り散りとなって戦友を置き去りにすることを示している。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and injury can shatter resolve: even renowned warriors may abandon positions and comrades when the mind is overwhelmed. Implicitly it contrasts steadfastness in dharma with the moral and psychological collapse that war can induce.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, under intense assault, some fighters flee in different directions, leaving others behind. Many elite chariot-warriors are badly wounded and begin to faint, struck down by the force of Arjuna’s arrows.