Shloka 54
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
धृष्टय्युम्नं महारौद्रं तत्र नो5 भूदू रणो महान् । जितास्तेन वयं सर्वे व्यपयाम रणात् तत:
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṁ mahāraudraṁ tatra no ’bhūd raṇo mahān | jitās tena vayaṁ sarve vyapāyāma raṇāt tataḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Di situ, dengan Dhṛṣṭadyumna yang garang dan menggerunkan, tercetuslah bagi kami suatu pertempuran besar. Dia menewaskan kami semua, lalu kami pun berundur dari pertempuran itu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh realism of dharma-yuddha: prowess and strategy can still end in defeat, and a tactical withdrawal may be necessary. It highlights accountability in war—victory and loss are both part of the warrior’s path, demanding steadiness rather than denial.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a fierce engagement occurred with Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Dhṛṣṭadyumna overpowered them all, and they retreated from that battlefield.