Shloka 24
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
हतं तमात्मजं दृष्टवा विराट: प्राद्रवद् भयात् । उत्सृज्य समरे द्रोणं व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्,अपने पुत्रको मारा गया देख मुँह बाये हुए कालके समान भयंकर द्रोणाचार्यको समरभूमिमें छोड़कर विराट भयके मारे भाग गये
sañjaya uvāca | hataṃ tam ātmajaṃ dṛṣṭvā virāṭaḥ prādravad bhayāt | utsṛjya samare droṇaṃ vyāttānanaṃ ivāntakam |
Nang makita ni Haring Virāṭa na napatay ang kanyang anak, siya’y tumakas sa takot. Iniwan niya si Droṇa sa larangan—nakapangingilabot na parang Kamatayang nakanganga—at tumakbo palayo, nilamon ng pangamba.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological truth: intense grief and fear can overwhelm even a king’s battlefield composure, causing a lapse from expected kṣatriya steadiness. It implicitly contrasts dharma-based courage with panic-driven flight.
After Virāṭa sees his son has been killed, he becomes terrified and flees the battlefield, leaving Droṇa behind—who is depicted as fearsome, like Death with a gaping mouth.