Shloka 45
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
धार्तराष्ट्रास्तत: सर्वे प्रायशो विमुखा भवन् । उस समय विजयसे उल्लसित होनेवाले पाण्डवोंने बड़े जोरसे सिंहनाद किया। इससे आपके सभी सैनिक प्राय: युद्धसे विमुख हो गये ।। ४४ $ ।। तान् वै विमनसो दृष्ट्वा माद्रीपुत्र: प्रतापवान्
dhārtarāṣṭrās tataḥ sarve prāyaśo vimukhā abhavan | tān vai vimanaso dṛṣṭvā mādrīputraḥ pratāpavān ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian anak-anak Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hampir semuanya, berpaling daripada pertempuran. Pāṇḍava yang bersorak kerana kemenangan mengaumkan singhanāda dengan kuat; akibatnya, hampir semua askar tuanku pun hilang semangat untuk bertempur. Melihat mereka tawar hati, putera Mādrī yang gagah (Nakula) menyedari goyahnya tekad mereka—tanda buruk runtuhnya keberanian di bawah tekanan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner resolve (dhairya) is decisive in dharma-yuddha: when courage breaks, even a large force becomes ineffective. Ethical pressure and fear can cause a collective turning away from one’s chosen duty, revealing the fragility of adharma-driven motivation.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava side (Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s men) largely loses heart and turns away from fighting. The valiant Mādrī’s son, Nakula, observes their dejection, marking a moment where the Pandava momentum and Kaurava discouragement become visible on the battlefield.