Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 34
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तेनाथ शब्देन विभीषणेन तथाभितप्तं बलमप्रधृष्यम् कांदिग्भूतं रुधिरेणो क्षिताडूं विसंज्ञकल्पं च तदा विषण्णम्
tenātha śabdena vibhīṣaṇena tathābhitaptaṃ balam apradhṛṣyam | kāndigbhūtaṃ rudhireṇokṣitāṅgaṃ visaṃjñakalpaṃ ca tadā viṣaṇṇam ||
Sañjaya said: Struck and seared by that dreadful roar, the otherwise unassailable host was thrown into confusion. Smeared with blood, it became as if senseless and sank into dejection, fleeing in panic without knowing which direction to take. The verse underscores how terror and moral collapse can break even a mighty army when the mind loses steadiness amid the violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in war, inner stability and morale are decisive: even a powerful force can crumble when fear overwhelms discernment, leading to confusion, flight, and ethical disintegration amid bloodshed.
Sañjaya describes a terrifying sound on the battlefield that shocks the (otherwise formidable) host into panic; bloodied and disoriented, the troops become almost senseless and flee aimlessly in despair.
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