Shloka 24
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
न चेदरक्षिष्य इमं जन॑ भयाद् द्विषद्धिरेवं बलिभि: प्रपीडितम् । तथा भविष्यद् विषतां प्रमोदनं यथा हतेष्वेष्विह नोडरिसूदन
na ced arakṣiṣya imaṁ janaṁ bhayād dviṣadbhir evaṁ balibhiḥ prapīḍitam | tathā bhaviṣyad viṣatāṁ pramodanaṁ yathā hateṣv eṣv iha no ’darisūdana ||
三阇耶说道：“灭敌者啊！若你因畏惧而未曾护佑这些人——你自己的亲族——当他们被强敌如此压迫之时，那么敌方必将如同我们此刻在此因其被诛而欢欣一般，得意欢庆。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts fear-driven inaction with the kṣatriya obligation to protect one’s people. It implies that failing to defend the oppressed empowers the wicked and grants them the very joy that rightful defenders later experience upon overcoming aggressors—highlighting responsibility, courage, and the moral stakes of protection.
Sañjaya, reporting the battlefield events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, addresses an 'enemy-slayer' and argues that if he had not protected his own people when they were being crushed by strong foes, the enemies would have celebrated; instead, with the foes now slain, the defenders experience that satisfaction.