त॑ हृदं विपुलं प्रेक्ष्य करुणं पर्यदेवयत् । अहोधिक् स न जानाति जीवतो<स्मान् नराधिप:
taṁ hṛdaṁ vipulaṁ prekṣya karuṇaṁ paryadevayat | aho dhik sa na jānāti jīvato 'smān narādhipaḥ ||
ते विशाल वक्ष पाहून तो करुणेने विलाप करू लागला—“अहो धिक्! तो नराधिप जाणत नाही की आपण अजून जिवंत आहोत.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how war distorts perception and judgment: even a ruler may fail to recognize the living presence and agency of others, prompting compassionate lament and moral reproach.
Sañjaya reports that, upon seeing a warrior’s broad chest (suggesting a fallen or struck figure), someone reacts with compassion and grief, exclaiming that the king does not realize that they are still alive.