Shloka 24
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
पाण्डवानभ्यवर्तन्त मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम् । राजा दुर्योधनके ऐसा कहनेपर सुबलपुत्र शकुनिके पीछे चलनेवाले सैनिक “अब हमें मृत्यु ही युद्धसे लौटा सकती है” ऐसा संकल्प लेकर पुन: पाण्डवोंपर टूट पड़े ।।
pāṇḍavān abhyavartanta mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam | rājā duryodhanake evaṃ kahanepara subalaputraśakuneḥ pīche calanevāle sainikāḥ “adya asmān mṛtyur eva yuddhāt nivartayiṣyati” iti saṅkalpya punaḥ pāṇḍaveṣu parāṅmukhāḥ pratyapatanta || dravadbhis tatra rājendra kṛtaḥ śabdo ’tidāruṇaḥ |
三阇耶说道：在难敌王（杜罗约陀那）言辞的激励下，那些追随苏巴拉之子沙昆尼的军士再度转身扑向般度诸子，立誓“唯有死亡方能使我们退出战斗”。在那里，大王啊，人群奔逃冲撞、乱作一团之时，最为骇人的咆哮声骤然腾起。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how leadership and rhetoric can harden collective resolve into fatalistic extremity—where retreat is rejected and death is accepted as the only limit—raising ethical tension between valor (kṣātra-dharma) and the destructive momentum of war.
After Duryodhana’s exhortation, Shakuni’s followers renew their assault on the Pandavas, vowing not to withdraw except by death; amid the rush and flight of men, a terrifying din rises on the battlefield.