Shloka 423

Devanagari script

हित्वा पाड्चालराजस्य तदनीकं दुरुत्सहम्‌ | कुछ लोगोंने कहा--'सारथिके मारे जानेपर पांचालराजकी उस दुःसह सेनाको त्यागकर राजा दुर्योधन वहीं गये हैं, जहाँ शकुनि हैं”

Transliteration

hitvā pāñcālarājasya tad-anīkaṃ durutsaham |

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను—పంచాలరాజుని ఆ దురుత్సహ వ్యూహాన్ని విడిచి కొందరు ఇలా అన్నారు—“సారథి హతుడైన తరువాత రాజు దుర్యోధనుడు ఆ రణభాగం నుండి వెనుదిరిగి, శకుని ఉన్న చోటికి వెళ్లెను.”

Word by Word

• हित्वा: having abandoned/left
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• पाञ्चालराजस्य: of the king of the Pāñcālas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चालराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनीकम्: army/host/battle-array
• अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दुरुत्सहम्: hard to withstand/irresistible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरुत्सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Śakuni
• Pāñcālarāja (King of the Pāñcālas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the fragility of resolve in war: when support systems (like a charioteer) collapse, even a king may abandon a difficult front and seek guidance or safety with a trusted ally. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether leadership should be anchored in steadfast duty (dharma) or in expedient survival and counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield development: Duryodhana is said to have left the formidable Pāñcāla formation after his charioteer was killed, and to have gone to the location where Śakuni was present—suggesting a tactical withdrawal and a move toward consultation or regrouping.