Shloka 19
अश्वारोहा महाराज धावमाना इतस्तत: । तत्र तत्रैव दृश्यन्ते निहता: पार्थसायकै:,राजेन्द्र! अर्जुनके बाणोंसे घायल हुए अश्वारोही भी जहाँ-तहाँ इधर-उधर भागते दिखायी दे रहे थे
aśvārohā mahārāja dhāvamānā itastataḥ | tatra tatraiva dṛśyante nihatāḥ pārthasāyakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja agung, para penunggang kuda—yang dihentam anak panah Pārtha—kelihatan melarikan diri ke segala arah, muncul di sana sini di seluruh medan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the swift and far-reaching effects of warfare: even supporting troops like horsemen are overwhelmed by a superior archer. Ethically, it points to the inevitability of suffering once battle is embraced, reminding the listener that martial glory carries immediate human cost.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s arrows have struck the mounted warriors; they are seen scattered across the battlefield, fleeing in different directions, some effectively ‘struck down’ and no longer able to hold formation.