Mahabharata 9.5.49 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 49
शल्यस्य सेनापत्याभ्युपगमः | Śalya’s Acceptance of Command
पराजयमशोचन्त: कृतचित्ताश्न विक्रमे | सर्वे सुनिश्चिता योद्धुमुदग्रमनसो5भवन्
parājayam aśocantaḥ kṛtacittāś ca vikrame | sarve suniścitā yoddhum udagramanasaḥ abhavan ||
सञ्जय उवाच—पराजयशोकं त्यक्त्वा कृतचित्ताः स्वविक्रमॆ, सर्वे सुनिश्चिताः योद्धुमुदग्रमनसोऽभवन्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior-ethic of disciplined resolve: after a setback, one should relinquish paralyzing grief and re-center the mind on purposeful action. Ethically, it portrays the shift from lamentation to determination as a necessary inner stance for those committed to their chosen duty (here, battle).
Sañjaya reports a change in the fighters’ morale: they stop mourning their defeat, become mentally fixed on valor, and collectively decide to continue fighting with renewed enthusiasm.
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