Shloka 154
Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
संजय उवाच तेषां नूनं भयान्नासौ कृतवान् कुरुनन्दन । असांनिध्याद्धि पार्थानां केशवस्य च धीमत:
sañjaya uvāca teṣāṃ nūnaṃ bhayān nāsau kṛtavān kurunandana | asānnidhyād dhi pārthānāṃ keśavasya ca dhīmataḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—କୁରୁନନ୍ଦନ! ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ଭୟରୁ ଏହା କରିନଥିଲା; କାରଣ ସେ ସମୟରେ ପାର୍ଥମାନେ ଓ ଧୀମାନ କେଶବ ସେଠାରେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ନଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wrongdoing often occurs when those who embody strength and moral restraint are absent; it implies that the agent’s action was not brave confrontation but an opportunistic deed enabled by the absence of the Pāṇḍavas and Kṛṣṇa.
Sañjaya explains to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the deed under discussion was not done out of fear of the Pāṇḍavas; rather, it was carried out because the Pāṇḍavas and the wise Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) were not present.