Shloka 43
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
भरतश्रेष्ठी] विजयसे उललसित होनेवाले पाण्डवोंने अपने बाणोंकी मारसे आपकी सेनाको बारंबार घायल किया ।। वध्यमाना चमू: सा तु पुत्राणां प्रेक्षतां तव । भेजे दिशो महाराज प्रणुन्ना शरवृष्टिभि:,महाराज! इस प्रकार चोट सहती हुई वह सेना बाणोंकी वर्षसे क्षत-विक्षत हो आपके पुत्रोंके देखते-देखते सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें भाग चली
vadhyamānā camūḥ sā tu putrāṇāṃ prekṣatāṃ tava | bheje diśo mahārāja praṇunnā śaravarṣṭibhiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja agung, di hadapan putera-putera tuanku, bala tentera itu—sedang dibinasakan—telah dihimpit oleh hujan anak panah; remuk dan koyak-rabak, barisannya pecah lalu melarikan diri ke segala arah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of power in war: when an army loses cohesion under sustained assault, it collapses regardless of numbers. Ethically, it presses the ruler to face the consequences of decisions that place one’s own people—seen here by the sons themselves—into catastrophic violence.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the army, struck down by intense arrow-showers, is being routed. As the king’s sons watch, the host breaks and runs in all directions, indicating a decisive moment of panic and dispersal on the battlefield.