Shloka 53
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
तस्मिन् देशे व्यवस्थाय यत्र शारद्वतः स्थित: । सम्प्रद्रुता वयं पजच किरीटिशरपीडिता:,मैं उसी स्थानमें स्थित होकर युद्ध कर रहा था, जहाँ कृपाचार्य मौजूद थे; परंतु किरीटधारी अर्जुनके बाणोंसे पीड़ित होकर हम पाँचों वहाँसे भागकर महाभयंकर धष्टद्युम्नके पास जा पहुँचे। वहाँ उनके साथ हमलोगोंका बड़ा भारी युद्ध हुआ। उन्होंने हम सबको परास्त कर दिया। तब हम वहाँसे भी भाग निकले
tasmin deśe vyavasthāya yatra śāradvataḥ sthitaḥ | sampradrutā vayaṃ pañca kirīṭiśara-pīḍitāḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Sa mismong bahaging iyon ng larangan, kung saan nakapuwesto si Śāradvata (Kṛpa), kaming lima ay nagpatuloy sa pakikipaglaban; ngunit sa tindi ng mga palaso ni Arjuna na may putong, kami’y napilitang tumakas mula roon. Dahil sa takot, narating namin si Dhṛṣṭadyumna na lubhang kakila-kilabot; at doon naganap ang isang mabangis na sagupaan. Dinaig niya kaming lahat, kaya napilitan kaming muling umurong.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological truth of warfare: even capable warriors may be compelled to retreat when overwhelmed by superior skill and relentless pressure. Ethically, it points to the tension between kṣatriya ideals of steadfastness and the human reality of fear, showing how outcomes in war are shaped by both valor and vulnerability.
Sañjaya reports that his side (a group of five warriors) was positioned near Kṛpa (Śāradvata). Under heavy attack from Arjuna’s arrows, they fled and encountered Dhṛṣṭadyumna, where a fierce fight ensued. Dhṛṣṭadyumna defeated them, forcing them to retreat again.