Shloka 193
पुनरावर्तितं केन यदि जानासि शंस मे | आचार्य द्रोणके मारे जानेपर वैसी दुरवस्थामें पड़कर जो सेना भाग गयी थी, उसे फिर किसने लौटाया है? यदि तुम जानते हो तो मुझे बताओ
punarāvartitaṁ kena yadi jānāsi śaṁsa me | ācārya-droṇake māre jñāne para vaśī duravasthāṁ paḍakara yo senā bhāgā gayī thī, use punaḥ kisne lauṭāyā hai? yadi tvaṁ jānāsi tato me vada ||
युधिष्ठिर उवाच— पुनरावर्तिता केन सेना नः सम्यग्व्यवस्थिता? यदि जानासि तन्मे शंस। आचार्यद्रोणवधे जाते, सा सेना दुरवस्थां प्राप्य मोहात् पलायिता; तां पुनः कः समाहूय प्रत्यावर्तयामास?
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical burden of leadership in war: after a morally and emotionally shattering event (the fall of a revered teacher), restoring discipline and purpose becomes crucial. It points to the importance of accountability—identifying who steadied the army—and the recognition that victory depends not only on force but on morale, order, and responsible command.
In the aftermath of Droṇa’s death, the army had broken ranks and fled in panic. Yudhiṣṭhira asks who managed to stop that rout and bring the troops back to the battlefield, seeking clarity about the agent who restored cohesion amid chaos.