Shloka 223
यदि त्वं न भवेस्त्राता प्रतीयात् को नु मानव: । “यदि तुम रक्षक न होते तो व्यूहाकारमें खड़ी हुई धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंकी प्रचण्ड एवं विशाल सेनाको सामने देखकर कौन मनुष्य उसपर चढ़ाई कर सकता था?
yadi tvaṁ na bhaves trātā pratīyāt ko nu mānavaḥ |
Wika ni Sanjaya: “Kung hindi ikaw ang naging tagapagtanggol nila, sinong tao ang makasusulong laban sa kanila? Sapagkat sino, sa pagtanaw sa mabangis at napakalawak na hukbo ng mga anak ni Dhṛtarāṣṭra na nakahanay sa pormasyong pandigma, ang mangangahas sumalakay?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical power of protective leadership: when a trusted defender stands as a refuge, ordinary people find the courage to act even against overwhelming odds; without such support, fear and hesitation prevail.
Sanjaya emphasizes to his listener that the Kaurava forces were formidable and arranged in a battle formation; he argues that an assault on such a host would be unthinkable unless someone served as a strong protector and rallying presence.