Shloka 10
Kṛtavarmā–Sātyaki Chariot Duel and Kaurava Morale Shock (कृतवर्म-सात्यकि-द्वैरथम्)
दृष्टवा च तां वेगवतीं प्रभग्नां सर्वे त्वदीया युधि योधमुख्या: । अपूजयंस्ते तु नराधिपं त॑ दध्मुश्न शड्खान् शशिसंनिकाशान्
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā ca tāṁ vegavatīṁ prabhagnāṁ sarve tvadīyā yudhi yodhamukhyāḥ |
apūjayaṁs te tu narādhipaṁ taṁ dadhmuś ca śaṅkhān śaśisaṁnikāśān ||
दृष्ट्वा च तां वेगवतीं प्रभग्नां सर्वे त्वदीया युधि योधमुख्याः। अपूजयँस्ते तु नराधिपं तं दध्मुश्च शङ्खान् शशिसंनिकाशान्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how quickly collective sentiment in war follows visible success: when an opposing force breaks, leaders are publicly honored and victory-signals are sounded, reinforcing group cohesion and escalating the conflict. It implicitly cautions that acclaim and noise can amplify aggression as much as they celebrate courage.
Sañjaya reports that a fast-moving force has been broken and is fleeing; seeing this, the chief warriors on Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side praise the king leading them and blow bright, moon-like conches as a triumphant battlefield signal.