Shloka 143
द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः
Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute
वार्यमाणस्तु विशिखै: सहदेवो रणं जहौ । तत्पश्चात् माद्रीकुमार सहदेवने अपने-आपको आयुधोंसे रहित समझकर कर्णके बाणोंसे अवरुद्ध हो उस रणभूमिको त्याग दिया
vāryamāṇas tu viśikhaiḥ sahadevo raṇaṃ jahau | tatpaścāt mādrīkumaras sahadevaḥ svayam āyudhair rahitaṃ manyamānaḥ karṇabāṇair avaruddho raṇabhūmiṃ tyaktavān |
Sahadeva, walaupun berusaha bertahan, telah disekat oleh hujan anak panah lalu berundur dari pertempuran. Sesudah itu putera Mādrī—Sahadeva—menilai dirinya tidak lagi bersenjata dengan berkesan, dan kerana terkurung oleh panah-panah Karṇa, meninggalkan medan itu. Peristiwa ini menonjolkan etika perang yang keras: keberanian dipuji, namun kelangsungan hidup dan undur taktikal menjadi tidak terelakkan apabila seseorang dilucutkan senjata dan ditindas oleh kekuatan yang lebih besar.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a pragmatic dimension of kṣatriya conduct: courage is essential, but when one is effectively disarmed and overwhelmed, withdrawal can be a necessary tactical choice rather than mere cowardice. It reflects the battlefield reality where dharma is pursued amid constraints, danger, and unequal advantage.
Sañjaya reports that Sahadeva is stopped and pressured by a storm of arrows. Feeling himself without effective weapons and blocked by Karṇa’s missiles, Sahadeva leaves the battlefield, indicating Karṇa’s dominance in that exchange.