Shloka 44
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
हाहाकारो महाउ्जज्ञे योधानां तव भारत । तिष्ठ तिछेति चाप्यासीद् द्रावितानां महात्मनाम्,भरतनन्दन! वहाँ आपके योद्धाओंमें महान् हाहाकार मच गया। भागे हुए योद्धाओंके पीछे महामनस्वी पाण्डव वीरोंकी “ठहरो, ठहरो' की आवाज सुनायी देने लगी
hāhākāro mahān jajñe yodhānāṃ tava bhārata | tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cāpy āsīd drāvitānāṃ mahātmanām ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Bhārata, tercetuslah jeritan besar dalam kalangan para pahlawan tuanku. Dan di belakang mereka yang telah dihalau lari, kedengaran para wira Pāṇḍava yang berjiwa luhur melaung, “Berhenti! Berhenti!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological contrast in war: panic and disorder arise when resolve collapses, while the opposing side’s call to ‘stand and face’ evokes the kṣatriya ideal of not fleeing from battle. It implicitly critiques flight from duty and underscores steadfastness under pressure.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops have been thrown into confusion and are fleeing, creating a loud uproar. The Pāṇḍava heroes, pursuing them, shout ‘Stand! Stand!’—urging the routed warriors to halt and fight rather than run.