Shloka 2
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
द्रवमाणे बलौघे च निरानन्दे मुहुर्मुहु: । किमकुर्वन्त कुरवस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय
dravamāṇe balaughe ca nirānande muhur muhuḥ | kim akurvanta kuravas tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ||
دھرتراشٹر نے کہا—“سنجے! جب میری فوج کے انبوہ بار بار ٹوٹ کر بھاگ رہے تھے، خوشی اور حوصلے سے خالی ہو چکے تھے، اور پانڈو انہیں بار بار کاٹ رہے تھے—تب کورو کیا کر رہے تھے؟ مجھے بتاؤ۔”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly power collapses when morale and cohesion fail. In ethical terms, it points to the consequences of adharma-driven leadership: when a cause is weakened by injustice and fear, even a large army can become ‘nirānanda’—spiritless—and break repeatedly.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about a critical moment in the battle: his forces are repeatedly routed and dispirited under the Pāṇḍavas’ pressure. He asks what the Kuru warriors did in response—seeking tactical and emotional reassurance amid worsening news.