Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 3
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
तत् सैन्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ वध्यमानं किरीटिना । सम्प्रदुद्राव संग्रामात् तव पुत्रस्य पश्यत:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! किरीटधारी अर्जुनकी मार खाकर वह बची हुई सेना आपके पुत्रके देखते- देखते रणभूमिसे भाग चली
tat sainyaṃ bharataśreṣṭha vadhyamānaṃ kirīṭinā | sampradudrāva saṃgrāmāt tava putrasya paśyataḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai yang terbaik antara kaum Bharata, bala tentera itu—sedang ditewaskan dan dibinasakan oleh pahlawan bermakuta (Arjuna)—telah pecah-berai lalu melarikan diri dari medan perang, tatkala puteramu sendiri menyaksikannya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of an army when morale and righteous confidence collapse: even a large force can disintegrate under decisive valor. Ethically, it points to the consequences of misguided leadership—those who choose an unrighteous course may be forced to witness the unraveling of their cause.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava remnants, struck hard by Arjuna (called Kirīṭin), panic and flee the battlefield, and this happens in full view of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana).