Shloka 23
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
प्राणान् जहाति यो धीरो युद्धे पृष्ठमदर्शयन् । उन सबको भागते देख राजा दुर्योधनने इस प्रकार कहा--“अरे पापियो! लौट आओ और युद्ध करो। भागनेसे तुम्हें क्या लाभ होगा? जो धीर वीर रणभूमिमें पीठ न दिखाकर प्राणोंका परित्याग करता है
prāṇān jahāti yo dhīro yuddhe pṛṣṭham adarśayan | evam uktās tu te rājñā saubalasya padānugāḥ ||
三阇耶说道：“那坚毅之人于战阵之中不露背而舍命（即不转身逃遁），便能在此世树立名声；身后更得在更高的天界享受安乐。”国王如此训示后，那些追随苏巴拉之子、沙昆尼脚步的人……
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage upholds the kṣatriya ideal: a warrior should not flee or show his back in battle; dying steadfastly is portrayed as bringing worldly fame (kīrti) and a favorable posthumous destiny.
In Sañjaya’s narration, Duryodhana is exhorting warriors who are running away to return and fight; the verse frames the ethical appeal—honor in battle and reward after death—and then notes that those aligned with Śakuni are being addressed.