Shloka 11
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
तान् दृष्टवा द्रवत:सर्वान् धार्तराष्ट्रानू पराड्मुखान्
tān dṛṣṭvā dravataḥ sarvān dhārtarāṣṭrān parāṅmukhān
ധൃതരാഷ്ട്രപുത്രന്മാരെ—എല്ലാവരെയും—മുഖം തിരിച്ച് ഓടുന്നതായി കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ആ ദൃശ്യം പെട്ടെന്നുണ്ടായ മറിച്ചുപോകലിന്റെ അടയാളമായി തോന്നി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner disposition determines outward action: when courage and dharma-based resolve collapse, one turns away and flees. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with retreat born of fear, suggesting that earlier adharma or arrogance can culminate in loss of morale at critical moments.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that the Dhārtarāṣṭras are seen running away, turned back from the confrontation. The scene marks a shift in momentum—those aligned with Dhṛtarāṣṭra are in retreat rather than advancing.