Shloka 53
गतानां यत्र वै मोक्ष: पाण्डवात् कि गतेन व: । अल्पं च बलमेतेषां कृष्णौ च भृशविक्षतौ
gatānāṁ yatra vai mokṣaḥ pāṇḍavāt ki gatena vaḥ | alpaṁ ca balam eteṣāṁ kṛṣṇau ca bhṛśa-vikṣatau ||
यत्र पतितानां वै मोक्षः, पाण्डवान् प्रति गमनेन वः किं फलम्? एतेषां बलमल्पं, उभौ च कृष्णौ भृशविक्षतौ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battlefield decision-making within an ethical horizon: death is not merely loss but can be linked with mokṣa, and therefore reckless aggression against the righteous (the Pāṇḍavas) is questioned. It also highlights the moral and strategic folly of pressing on when one’s side is weakened and key figures are badly wounded.
Sañjaya reports a moment of assessment and discouragement: he points out that the opposing side’s strength is limited and that “the two Kṛṣṇas” are severely injured, while also questioning what benefit there is in continuing to go against the Pāṇḍavas—implying a grim recognition of the war’s cost and the spiritual stakes of those who fall.