Shloka 296
Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
अपोवाह महाबाहुं तूर्णणायोधनादपि । फिर सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते महाबाहु कृतवर्माको अपने रथपर बिठाकर वे उसे तुरंत ही युद्धस्थलसे दूर हटा ले गये
apo vāha mahābāhuṃ tūṛṇaṃ yuddhād api | punaḥ sampūrṇa-dhanurdharāṇāṃ dṛśyatāṃ mahābāhuḥ kṛtavarmāṇaṃ sva-rathe niveśya taṃ tūrṇaṃ yuddha-sthalād dūraṃ apāharat ||
सञ्जय उवाच—स महाबाहुः क्षिप्रं महाबाहुं कृतवर्माणं युद्धात् समपोवाह। अथ सर्वेषां धनुर्धराणां पश्यतां तं स्वस्य रथे निवेश्य, तत्क्षणमेव रणभूमेर्दूरं निनाय—युद्धधर्मे रक्षणकर्तव्यतां पुरस्कृत्य।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war’s violence, a warrior’s dharma includes protecting comrades and acting decisively to preserve life and fighting capacity; swift, responsible action can be ethically framed as loyalty and duty rather than mere retreat.
Sañjaya describes a warrior quickly removing Kṛtavarmā from immediate danger, placing him on his own chariot, and withdrawing him far from the battlefield, all in full view of armed archers.