Shloka 44
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
द्रोणं दुर्योधनं शल्यमश्चत्थामानमेव च । प्रायशश्न महेष्वासा ये प्रधाना: सम कौरवा:
droṇaṃ duryodhanaṃ śalyaṃ aśvatthāmānam eva ca | prāyaśaś ca maheṣvāsā ye pradhānāḥ sma kauravāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “(Aku melihat) Droṇa, Duryodhana, Śalya, dan Aśvatthāman juga; malah hampir semua Kaurava yang terkemuka—para pemanah agung dan wira utama. Dihimpit ketakutan dan kekeliruan yang lahir daripada māyā itu, tentera berpaling daripada pertempuran, memandang sesama sendiri dan para pemimpin mereka seolah-olah telah terbelah, rebah, menggeliat di bumi dan bersimbah darah—jatuh ke dalam keadaan yang menyedihkan. Maka para juara utama Kaurava tampak seakan-akan dibinasakan, dan medan perang seolah-olah bertaburan kuda serta penunggang yang hancur.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and delusion can collapse even a powerful force: when perception is distorted (māyā), confidence and cohesion break, and even eminent leaders appear ‘defeated.’ Ethically, it underscores the fragility of pride and the need for steadiness of mind amid crisis.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield scene where, due to an illusory or bewildering event, the Kaurava troops lose heart. He names leading warriors—Droṇa, Duryodhana, Śalya, and Aśvatthāman—and says that most of the chief Kaurava archers appear as though ruined, with the field seemingly filled with fallen, bloodied combatants and shattered cavalry.