Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
जवेनाभ्यपतत् तूर्ण सर्वाश्वैको न्न्यवारयत् । दुर्योधन अपनी सेनाको निकटसे भागती देख बड़े वेगसे शत्रुओंपर टूट पड़ा और उन सबको अकेले ही शीघ्रतापूर्वक रोकने लगा
sañjaya uvāca | javena abhyapatat tūrṇaṁ sarvāśvaiḥ eko nyavārayat |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nang makita ni Duryodhana na ang sarili niyang hukbo ay tumatakas sa malapitan, sumugod siya sa kaaway nang ubod ng bilis at, bagaman nag-iisa, mabilis niyang napigil silang lahat sa pamamagitan ng kanyang karwahe at mga kabayo. Ipinakikita ng sandaling ito ang paninindigan ng haring mandirigma na pigilan ang sindak at ibalik ang kaayusan, kahit isinusugal ang sarili, sa gitna ng gumuho nang hanay ng labanan.
संजय उवाच
In a moment of collective panic, a leader’s duty is to restrain disorder and re-establish steadiness. The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: facing danger directly to prevent the collapse of one’s forces, even when support is lacking.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, seeing his troops fleeing nearby, charges rapidly toward the opposing side and single-handedly checks them—using his chariot and horses to block, rally, and halt the rout.