Mahabharata 4.65.13 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 65, Shloka 13
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
दृष्टवैव पार्थेन हतं च नागं योधांश्व सर्वान् द्रवतो निशम्य । रथं समावृत्य कुरुप्रवीरो रणात् प्रदुद्राव यतो न पार्थ:
dṛṣṭvaiva pārthena hataṃ ca nāgaṃ yodhāṃś ca sarvān dravato niśamya | rathaṃ samāvṛtya kurupravīro raṇāt pradudrāva yato na pārthaḥ ||
పార్థుని చేత గజరాజు హతుడయ్యెను, యోధులందరూ పారిపోతున్నారు అని చూచి కురువంశపు ప్రధాన వీరుడు దుర్యోధనుడు రథమును తిప్పి, పార్థుడు లేని దిశవైపు యుద్ధభూమి నుండి పారిపోయెను.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension within kṣatriya-dharma: valor and steadfastness are praised, yet in the face of overwhelming prowess and collapsing morale, even a leading warrior chooses flight. It illustrates how fear and strategic self-preservation can override ideals of heroic conduct, inviting reflection on the fragility of resolve in war.
After Arjuna (Pārtha) kills a great elephant and the rest of the fighters begin to flee, Duryodhana—described as the foremost Kuru hero—turns his chariot away and escapes from the battlefield, deliberately choosing a direction where Arjuna is not present.
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