Shloka 8
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
दुद्रुवु: केचिदुत्सृज्य तत्र तत्र विशाम्पते । बहवोऊत्र भृशं विद्धा मुहामाना महारथा:,नरव्याप्र! कोई पिताको पुकारते थे, कोई सहायकोंको। प्रजानाथ! कुछ लोग अपने भाई-बन्धुओं और सगे-सम्बन्धियोंको जहाँ-के-तहाँ छोड़कर भाग गये। बहुत-से महारथी पार्थके बाणोंसे अत्यन्त घायल हो मूर्च्छित हो रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca |
dudruvuḥ kecid utsṛjya tatra tatra viśāmpate |
bahavo 'tra bhṛśaṃ viddhā muhyamānā mahārathāḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó senhor do povo, alguns fugiram em pânico, abandonando seus postos aqui e ali. Muitos grandes guerreiros de carro, gravemente traspassados, iam perdendo os sentidos—vencidos pelo choque das flechas de Arjuna. A cena revela que, quando o medo e a dor dominam a mente, até os poderosos podem esquecer o dever e se dispersar, deixando os companheiros para trás.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and injury can shatter resolve: even renowned warriors may abandon positions and comrades when the mind is overwhelmed. Implicitly it contrasts steadfastness in dharma with the moral and psychological collapse that war can induce.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, under intense assault, some fighters flee in different directions, leaving others behind. Many elite chariot-warriors are badly wounded and begin to faint, struck down by the force of Arjuna’s arrows.