Shloka 13
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
दृष्टवैव पार्थेन हतं च नागं योधांश्व सर्वान् द्रवतो निशम्य । रथं समावृत्य कुरुप्रवीरो रणात् प्रदुद्राव यतो न पार्थ:,अर्जुनके हाथसे गजराज मारा गया और सम्पूर्ण योद्धा भी रणभूमि छोड़कर भाग रहे हैं, यह देखकर कुरुवंशका प्रमुख वीर दुर्योधन भी, जिस ओर अर्जुन नहीं थे, उसी दिशामें रथ घुमाकर भागा
dṛṣṭvaiva pārthena hataṃ ca nāgaṃ yodhāṃś ca sarvān dravato niśamya | rathaṃ samāvṛtya kurupravīro raṇāt pradudrāva yato na pārthaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Vendo que o elefante fora morto por Pārtha e ouvindo que todos os guerreiros fugiam, o principal herói dos Kurus também virou sua carruagem e correu do campo de batalha—conduzindo para o lado onde Pārtha (Arjuna) não estava. A cena ressalta como o medo e o instinto de autopreservação podem eclipsar o código do guerreiro diante de uma superioridade inegável em combate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension within kṣatriya-dharma: valor and steadfastness are praised, yet in the face of overwhelming prowess and collapsing morale, even a leading warrior chooses flight. It illustrates how fear and strategic self-preservation can override ideals of heroic conduct, inviting reflection on the fragility of resolve in war.
After Arjuna (Pārtha) kills a great elephant and the rest of the fighters begin to flee, Duryodhana—described as the foremost Kuru hero—turns his chariot away and escapes from the battlefield, deliberately choosing a direction where Arjuna is not present.