Shloka 9
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
यो होक: पाण्डवैर्युध्येद् यो वा युध्यन्तमुत्सूजेत् । स पज्चभिर्भवेद् युक्त: पातकैश्नोपपातकै:,“हमलोगोंमेंसे कोई एक योद्धा अकेला रहकर किसी तरह भी पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध न करे। जो अकेला ही पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्ध करेगा अथवा जो पाण्डवोंके साथ जूझते हुए वीरको अकेला छोड़ देगा, वह पाँच पातकों और उपपातकोंसे युक्त होगा
yo hokaḥ pāṇḍavair yudhyed yo vā yudhyantam utsṛjet | sa pañcabhir bhaved yuktaḥ pātakaiś copapātakaiḥ ||
ผู้ใดในพวกเรารบกับพวกปาณฑพเพียงลำพัง หรือผู้ใดทอดทิ้งวีรบุรุษที่กำลังรบอยู่ ผู้นั้นย่อมมัวหมองด้วยบาปมหาปาตกะทั้งห้า พร้อมทั้งบาปรองทั้งหลาย
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames two battlefield failures as moral transgressions: reckless solitary engagement against the Pāṇḍavas and, more seriously, deserting an ally already fighting. It emphasizes solidarity, disciplined conduct, and responsibility to comrades as part of righteous war-behavior.
In the Shalya Parva war setting, Sañjaya reports a stern directive meant to regulate the Kaurava side’s conduct: no warrior should fight the Pāṇḍavas alone, and no one should abandon a comrade mid-combat—both acts are declared sinful, carrying heavy moral blame.