Shloka 4
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
सोमकांश्व जितान् दृष्टवा निरुत्साहान् महारथान् | (निशामुखं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य घोररूपं भयानकम् ।) चिन्तयित्वा ततो राजा अवहारमरोचयत्
saumakāṁś ca jitān dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān mahārathān | (niśāmukhaṁ ca samprekṣya ghorarūpaṁ bhayānakam |) cintayitvā tato rājā avahāram arocayat, bharatanandana |
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat para pahlawan Somaka—para maharathi—telah ditewaskan dan hilang segala semangat tempur, serta melihat malam menjelang, berwajah ngeri lagi menakutkan, maka raja (Yudhiṣṭhira), setelah menimbang keadaan itu, memilih untuk menarik tentera keluar dari pertempuran, wahai kebanggaan Bharata.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent kingship: when warriors are defeated in spirit and conditions become dangerous (nightfall), a ruler should reflect and choose a course that prevents futile slaughter. Dharma in war includes restraint and responsibility, not only valor.
Sañjaya reports that the Somaka great warriors have been beaten and have lost their will to fight; night is approaching with a fearful aspect. Considering these factors, the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) decides to withdraw the army from the battlefield.