Shloka 10
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! युद्धमें आगे बढ़नेवाले अपने पुत्रको बृहन्नला सारथिके साथ एकमात्र रथकी सहायतासे कौरवोंका सामना करनेके लिये गया हुआ सुनकर राजा विराटको बड़ा संताप हुआ। उन्होंने (अपने) सभी प्रधान मन्त्रियोंसे कहा -- ९ || सर्वथा कुरवस्ते हि ये चान्ये वसुधाधिपा: । त्रिगर्तान् 68268 3 त्वा न स्थास्यन्ति कदाचन
Vaiśampāyana uvāca—Janamejaya! yuddhe ’bhimukhaṁ pravṛttaṁ svaputraṁ Bṛhannalā-sārathinā sahaikenaiva rathena Kauravān prati yātuṁ śrutvā rājā Virāṭo mahān santāpaṁ jagāma. sa sarvān pradhānān mantriṇaḥ pratyuvāca—“sarvathā Kuravaste hi ye cānye vasudhādhipāḥ, Trigartān tvā na sthāsyanti kadācana; (yadā te śroṣyanti yathā Trigartā yuddhe pṛṣṭhataḥ palāyitāḥ).”
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Janamejaya, nang marinig ni Haring Virāṭa na ang kanyang anak—na sabik manguna sa digmaan—ay umalis upang harapin ang mga Kaurava, si Bṛhannalā ang tagapagmaneho at iisang karwaheng pandigma lamang ang inaasahan, siya’y sinakmal ng matinding dalamhati. Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga pangunahing ministro: ‘Maging ang mga Kaurava man o alinmang ibang hari, kapag nabalitaan nilang ang mga Trigarta ay tumalikod at tumakas mula sa labanan, hindi sila makatatagal na manatili rito kailanman.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield morale and reputation shape outcomes: a single ally’s rout (the Trigartas fleeing) can unravel the resolve of even powerful kings. It also reflects a ruler’s duty to assess risk and respond with prudent counsel when a young prince rushes into danger.
Virāṭa learns that his son has gone out to face the Kauravas with only one chariot, with Bṛhannalā as charioteer. Alarmed, he tells his ministers that if the enemy hears the Trigartas have fled, the Kauravas and other kings will not be able to stand firm—implying the situation may turn quickly depending on who breaks first.