Shloka 45
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
क्षत्रियाणां तदान्योन्यं संयुगे जयमिच्छताम् । प्राद्रवन्नेव सम्भग्ना: पाण्डवैस्तव सैनिका:,भारत! युद्धमें परस्पर विजयकी अभिलाषा रखनेवाले क्षत्रियोंमेंसे पाण्डवोंद्वारा पराजित होकर आपके सैनिक युद्धमें अपने प्यारे पुत्रों, भाइयों, पितामहों, मामाओं, भानजों और मित्रोंको भी छोड़कर भाग गये
kṣatriyāṇāṃ tadānyonyaṃ saṃyuge jayam icchatām | prādravann eva sambhagnāḥ pāṇḍavais tava sainikāḥ, bhārata |
Sañjaya berkata: “Kemudian, wahai Bhārata, walaupun para kṣatriya di medan perang saling menginginkan kemenangan, para askar tuanku—yang telah hancur dan dipukul mundur oleh Pāṇḍava—berlari meninggalkan gelanggang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle and the human reality of fear and collapse when defeat becomes overwhelming; desire for victory alone does not sustain dharma or courage without discipline and leadership.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, despite the warriors’ mutual eagerness to win, the Kaurava troops were broken by the Pāṇḍavas and fled from the battlefield.