Mahabharata 7.175.24 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 24
ततो युधिष्छिरो राजा स्वसैन्यं प्रेक्ष्य विद्रुतम् । अपयाने मन: कृत्वा फाल्गुनं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā svasainyaṃ prekṣya vidrutam | apayāne manaḥ kṛtvā phālgunaṃ vākyam abravīt ||
அப்போது அரசன் யுதிஷ்டிரன் தன் படை ஓடுவதைக் கண்டு, தானும் போர்க்களத்திலிருந்து விலக எண்ணி, பால்குணன் (அர்ஜுனன்)ிடம் இவ்வாறு கூறினான்।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical pressure on a ruler in war: when one’s forces collapse, the leader’s mind may turn to retreat, yet he must weigh that impulse against duty, responsibility for troops, and the larger dharmic aim of the campaign.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira sees the Pāṇḍava army running away. Disturbed, he considers withdrawing from the battlefield and then addresses Arjuna (called Phālguna), initiating a crucial exchange about what should be done next.
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