Shloka 18
ते भारतमहामात्र पाण्डवानां महारथ: । जेतुं नोत्सहते कक्षिन्नाभ्युद्यातुं कंचन
te bhāratamahāmātra pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathaḥ | jetuṃ notsahate kakṣin nābhyudyātuṃ kaṃcana
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—ஓ பாரதர்களின் மாபெரும் அமைச்சரே! அந்த மகாரதன் பாண்டவர்களை வெல்லத் துணிவதில்லை; யாரையும் எதிர்த்து எழுந்து நிற்கவும் மனம் கொள்ளவில்லை.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of warfare: even a top-ranked warrior (mahāratha) may lack the inner resolve to fight, suggesting that victory depends not only on strength but also on conviction, duty-consciousness, and moral clarity.
Sañjaya reports to a senior authority in the Kuru court that a prominent warrior, though capable, is unwilling to confront the Pāṇḍavas and does not step forward to engage anyone—indicating hesitation or loss of fighting spirit at a critical moment.