Shloka 51
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
विवर्णमुख भूयिष्ठम भवत् तावकं बलम् । परिक्षीणायुधान् दृष्टवा तानहं परिवारितान्
vivarṇamukha bhūyiṣṭham abhavat tāvakaṁ balam | parikṣīṇāyudhān dṛṣṭvā tān ahaṁ parivāritān |
Sañjaya berkata: Kebanyakan bala tentera tuanku menjadi muram, wajah mereka pucat lesi. Melihat mereka kehabisan senjata dan dikepung dari segenap arah, aku—menanggalkan keterikatan pada nyawa—bergabung dengan empat orang maharathi yang lain dan, bersama divisyen gajah serta kuda, bertempur melawan pasukan yang dipimpin Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Adegan ini menunjukkan bagaimana putus asa dan kepungan dapat mematahkan semangat tentera, namun para pahlawan yang terikat oleh kesetiaan dan dharma kewajipan tetap mara walau peluang hidup kian tipis.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of warfare: when fear and defeat spread, a warrior’s chosen duty and loyalty can still compel action. It also shows how attachment to life (jīvitamoha) is consciously set aside in moments of extreme crisis, reflecting the grim resolve expected in kṣatriya conduct.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops are largely demoralized, disarmed, and encircled. Seeing this, he describes taking up combat alongside four great chariot-warriors and the elephant-and-horse contingents, fighting against the forces commanded by Dhṛṣṭadyumna.