Shloka 20
Karṇa’s Camp-Council Discourse: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament, Sañjaya’s Counsel, and Karṇa’s Request for Śalya
Book 8, Chapter 22
मूढं चैनं समालोक्य सारथिस्त्वरितो रथम् | अपोवाह भृशं त्रस्तो वध्यमान: शितै: शरै:,उसे मूर्च्छित देख उसका सारथि तीखे बाणोंकी मार खाकर अत्यन्त भयभीत हो तुरंत ही रथको रणभूमिसे दूर हटा ले गया
mūḍhaṃ cainaṃ samālokya sārathis tvarito ratham | apovāha bhṛśaṃ trasto vadhyamānaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Санджая сказал: «Увидев его лежащим без чувств, возничий — поражённый острыми стрелами и охваченный сильным страхом — поспешно увёл колесницу прочь с поля битвы.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological reality of war: fear can overpower duty, and even those assigned supportive roles may choose retreat when survival is threatened. It implicitly contrasts idealized valor with human limits under extreme violence.
Sañjaya reports that, upon seeing a warrior lying senseless, the charioteer—himself wounded by sharp arrows—panics and quickly drives the chariot away from the fighting, withdrawing from immediate danger.