Shloka 38
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
पराजिते तत: शूरे ट्रुपदस्यात्मजे प्रभो । व्यद्रवत् पाण्डवी सेना वध्यमाना समन्ततः,प्रभो! शूरवीर ट्रुपदपुत्रके पराजित हो जानेपर सब ओरसे मारी जाती हुई पाण्डव-सेना भागने लगी
parājite tataḥ śūre drupadasyātmaje prabho | vyadravat pāṇḍavī senā vadhyamānā samantataḥ ||
Sañjaya nói: Tâu chúa thượng, khi người con anh dũng của Drupada đã bị đánh bại, quân Pāṇḍava—bị chém giết tứ phía—liền tan hàng và tháo chạy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical ethical lesson of warfare: the fall of a key leader can unravel collective resolve, and unchecked violence rapidly turns ordered combat into chaotic flight. It implicitly stresses the responsibility of commanders to protect morale and the grave consequences of slaughter that spreads fear through an army.
Sañjaya reports to the king that after the heroic son of Drupada is defeated, the Pāṇḍava forces, attacked and killed from all directions, lose formation and begin to flee the battlefield.