Shloka 1
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
अफ्-#-रात पञ्चविशो< ध्याय: अर्जुन और भीमसेनद्वारा कौरवोंकी रथसेना एवं गजसेनाका संहार
sañjaya uvāca | paśyatāṃ yatamānānāṃ śūrāṇām anivartinām | saṅkalpam akarod moghaṃ gāṇḍīvena dhanañjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, meskipun para pahlawan Kaurava itu gagah berani, tidak berpaling dari perang dan berusaha sehabis daya demi kemenangan, namun di hadapan mata mereka sendiri Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) menjadikan tekad mereka sia-sia dengan busur Gāṇḍīva.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that courage and effort alone do not guarantee success; when a cause is ethically compromised or strategically inferior, even steadfast resolve can be nullified by a more capable opponent. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that dharma and right alignment matter alongside valor.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava fighters, though brave and determined and watching closely, were outmatched: Arjuna, wielding the Gāṇḍīva, broke their momentum and rendered their battle-plans ineffective, setting the tone for the ensuing rout and destruction described in the chapter.