Shloka 32
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
उस समय पार्थने रथहीन हुए दुर्योधनकी दोनों हथेलियोंमें दो पैने बाणोंद्वारा गहरी चोट पहुँचायी ।। प्रयत्नज्ञो हि कौन्तेयो नखमांसान्तरेषुभि: | स वेदनाभिराविग्न: पलायनपरायण:,उपायको जाननेवाले कुन्तीकुमारने अपने बाणोंद्वारा दुर्योधनके नखोंके मांसमें प्रहार किया। तब वह वेदनासे व्याकुल हो युद्धभूमिसे भाग चला
prayatnajño hi kaunteyo nakhamāṁsāntareṣubhiḥ | sa vedanābhir āvignaḥ palāyanaparāyaṇaḥ ||
तदा पार्थो विरथं दुर्योधनं करयोर्द्वयोः । तीक्ष्णाभ्यां बाणाभ्यां तीव्रं व्यथयामास पाणितले ॥ प्रयत्नज्ञो हि कौन्तेयो नखमांसान्तरेषुभिः । स वेदनाभिराविग्नः पलायनपरायणः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how strategic knowledge (upāya, effective means) can decisively shift a battle, and how physical pain can erode a warrior’s steadiness, pushing him away from kṣatriya-duty toward flight.
Sañjaya narrates that Kaunteya (Arjuna/Pārtha) wounds Duryodhana in a particularly sensitive area—under the nails—using sharp arrows; overwhelmed by pain, Duryodhana becomes agitated and turns to flee from the battlefield.