Shloka 16
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
तावुभौ विरथौ वीरौ कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धनौ | व्यपाक्रमेतां युद्धात्तु प्रेक्षमाणी परस्परम्,कुरुकुलकी कीर्ति बढ़ानेवाले वे दोनों वीर रथहीन हो एक-दूसरेको देखते हुए युद्धस्थलसे हट गये
tāv ubhau virathau vīrau kurūṇāṁ kīrtivardhanau | vyapākrametāṁ yuddhāt tu prekṣamāṇī parasparam ||
三阇耶说道：那两位英勇的战士，如今失却战车，却更增俱卢族之声名；他们彼此凝视，遂自战场退去——并非因惧而退，乃是在失去战斗立足之处后，依军纪而作的克制停歇。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, the epic highlights regulated warrior-ethics: when a combatant loses the essential means of fighting (here, the chariot), stepping back can be an act of discipline and honor rather than cowardice—preserving dharma and reputation.
Sañjaya reports that two renowned Kuru warriors have become chariotless and therefore withdraw from the immediate fighting, still watching one another closely—signaling a temporary break in their engagement rather than a complete end to hostility.