Shloka 20
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
गजाश्वरथहीनास्तु पादाताश्चैव मारिष
gajāśvarathahīnāstu pādātāścaiva māriṣa
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai yang mulia, mereka telah kehilangan gajah, kuda, dan kereta perang, lalu terpaksa bertempur dengan berjalan kaki.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh ethical reality of war: as resources and elite arms are destroyed, combatants are forced into more vulnerable, direct struggle on foot—highlighting the escalating human cost and the stripping away of status and protection in prolonged conflict.
Sañjaya reports to the addressed elder that the fighters have lost their elephants, horses, and chariots, and are now fighting as infantry, indicating severe attrition and a turning point in battlefield capability.