Mahabharata 7.97.21 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 97, Shloka 21
शैनेयचरितम्
The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement
भोजमेके<भ्यवर्तन्त जलसंधं तथापरे । पाण्डवै्न्यमानाश्न द्रोणमेवापरे ययु:
bhojam eke 'bhyavartanta jalasaṃdhaṃ tathāpare | pāṇḍavaiḥ nighnamānāś ca droṇam evāpare yayuḥ ||
పాండవ యోధుల దెబ్బలకు తట్టుకోలేక కొందరు భోజుని వైపు తిరిగారు, మరికొందరు జలసంధుని వద్దకు పారిపోయారు; మిగిలినవారు మాత్రం ద్రోణాచార్యునినే అనుసరించారు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In crisis, morale fractures: some retreat or flee, while others seek safety and order by rallying behind a capable leader. Ethically, it highlights the tension between fear-driven self-preservation and the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness in battle.
Sañjaya reports that under heavy pressure from the Pāṇḍava fighters, parts of the Kaurava force scatter—some turning toward Bhoja, others toward Jalasandha—while the remaining warriors regroup by following Droṇa.
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