Shloka 20
त्वरयन्तः पितृनन्ये भ्रातृनन्येड5थ मातुलान् । पुत्रानन्ये वयस्यांश्व प्राद्रवन् कुरवस्तदा,कुछ कौरव पिता, ताऊ और चाचा आदिको, कुछ भाइयोंको, कुछ मामाओंको तथा कितने ही पुत्रों और मित्रोंको जल्दीसे भागनेकी प्रेरणा देते हुए उस समय मैदान छोड़कर चल दिये
tvarayantaḥ pitṝn anye bhrātṝn anye ’tha mātulān | putrān anye vayasyāṁś ca prādravan kuravas tadā ||
तदा कुरवः प्राद्रवन्—केचित् पितॄन् त्वरयन्तः, केचिद् भ्रातॄन्, केचिन्मातुलान्; केचित् पुत्रान् वयस्यांश्च शीघ्रं पलायनाय प्रेरयन्तः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can overturn expected duty: instead of standing firm in a warrior’s obligation, people prioritize survival and pull even close relatives into flight. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness in dharma with panic-driven collapse of resolve.
Sañjaya reports that the Kuru forces are breaking and running from the battlefield. In the confusion, different men urge their own fathers, brothers, maternal uncles, sons, and friends to hurry away, and they collectively abandon the field.