Shloka 3
Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
निवृत्ता: सहसा योधास्तव पुत्रजयैषिण: । संनिवृत्तेषु तेष्वेवं युद्धभासीत् सुदारुणम्
sañjaya uvāca | nivṛttāḥ sahasā yodhās tava putra-jayaiṣiṇaḥ | saṃnivṛtteṣu teṣv evaṃ yuddham āsīt sudāruṇam ||
三阇耶说道：“你方将士因渴望你儿子得胜，忽然回身再战。待他们如此重整并返身之后，彼此间的厮杀便燃成极其惨烈的战斗——凶猛、混乱，更由党同之心所驱使，而非冷静的判断。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how attachment to a partisan outcome—here, the craving for the prince’s victory—can intensify violence and cloud judgment. It implicitly contrasts impulsive zeal with steadiness and discernment, showing how desire-driven action can escalate conflict into something 'sudāruṇa' (most dreadful).
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Kaurava fighters, intent on securing his son’s victory, abruptly turned back (regrouped/returned), and as a result the combat surged into an exceptionally fierce and terrifying engagement.