Mahabharata 4.65.12 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 65, Shloka 12
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
ततो गजे राजनि चैव भिन्ने भग्ने विकर्णे च सपादरक्षे । गाण्डीवमुक्तिविशिखेै: प्रणुन्ना- स््ते योधमुख्या: सहसापजग्मु:
tato gaje rājani caiva bhinne bhagne vikarṇe ca sapādarākṣe | gāṇḍīvamuktiviśikhaiḥ praṇunnās te yodhamukhyāḥ sahasā pajagmuḥ ||
បន្ទាប់មក ពេលដំរីរាជ និងស្តេចកុរុទាំងពីរត្រូវរបួស ហើយវិកರ್ಣៈជាមួយទាហានថ្មើរជើងដែលការពារជើងដំរីបានរត់គេចខ្លួន នាយយុទ្ធជនទាំងឡាយដែលត្រូវព្រួញចេញពីធ្នូគណ្ឌីវៈវាយប្រហារ រងទុក្ខវេទនា ហើយភ្លាមៗបានបោះបង់សមរភូមិរត់ចេញទៅ។ ទិដ្ឋភាពនេះបង្ហាញថា មោទនភាពយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រអាចរលាយបាត់ពេលជួបជំនាញ និងសេចក្តីមុតមាំលើសលប់ ហើយភ័យអាចរំលាយភាពរួបរួមនៃកងទ័ពបានក្នុងពេលខ្លី។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of battlefield morale: when leadership and key supports (king, war-elephant, guards) are wounded or routed, even prominent warriors may abandon the field. Ethically, it contrasts steadfast kṣatriya resolve with the human tendency toward fear when faced with overwhelming force.
A decisive volley from the Gāṇḍīva wounds the royal elephant and the Kuru king; Vikarṇa, along with the elephant’s foot-guards, is routed. Under the pressure of Arjuna’s arrows, the leading warriors suddenly flee the battlefield.
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