Shloka 1
ऑपन--माज बक। अकाल चतुर्नवतितमो< ध्याय: शल्यके द्वारा रणभूमिका दिग्दर्शन, कौरव-सेनाका पलायन और श्रीकृष्ण तथा अर्जुनका शिविरकी ओर गमन संजय उवाच दृष्टवा तु सैन्यं परिवर्त्यमानं पुत्रेण ते मद्रपतिस्तदानीम् । संत्रस्तरूप: परिमूढचेता दुर्योधनं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! आपके पुत्रद्वारा सेनाको पुनः लौटानेका प्रयत्न होता देख उस समय भयभीत और मूढ़चित्त हुए मद्रराज शल्यने दुर्योधनसे इस प्रकार कहा
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā tu sainyaṃ parivartyamānaṃ putreṇa te madrapatistadānīm |
santrastarūpaḥ parimūḍhacetā duryodhanaṃ vākyam idaṃ babhāṣe ||
Sañjaya said: O King, seeing your son striving at that moment to turn the army back, Śalya, lord of Madra—his appearance shaken with fear and his mind bewildered—addressed Duryodhana with these words. The scene underscores how, amid the moral and strategic collapse of battle, even eminent leaders are driven by panic and confusion, and counsel arises from a troubled conscience rather than steady discernment.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and mental confusion can overtake even powerful leaders in crisis, shaping their counsel and decisions. Ethically, it points to the inner collapse that accompanies adharma: when a cause is unrighteous and fortunes turn, steadiness of mind and clarity of judgment are among the first casualties.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana is trying to rally or turn back the army. Seeing this, Śalya—alarmed and bewildered—begins to speak to Duryodhana, setting up the ensuing dialogue and tactical-moral commentary in the chapter.