Shloka 13
Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption
हताश्वसूतमुत्सूज्य सरथं पतितध्वजम्
hatāśvasūtam utsṛjya sarathaṁ patitadhvajam
ଯାହାର ଘୋଡ଼ା ଓ ସାରଥି ନିହତ, ସେହି ରଥକୁ—ପତିତ ଧ୍ୱଜ ସହ—ସେ ତ୍ୟାଗ କଲେ; ତାହା ଏବେ ଅପମାନିତ ଓ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଥିଲା।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical and ethical point of kṣatriya conduct: when one’s chariot is effectively neutralized—its horses and charioteer slain and its banner fallen—continuing to rely on it is futile and dishonourable; a warrior must adapt, withdraw, or seek another means rather than cling to a broken instrument of war.
Sañjaya describes a combatant leaving behind a chariot that has been crippled in battle: the horses and the charioteer are dead, and the standard has fallen, marking the chariot’s loss of effectiveness and prestige.