Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 103
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
अभियातीति मन्वाना:ः पेतुर्मम्लुश्न भारत । वे सब लोग एक-दूसरेपर चोट करते और भयसे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंकी ओर देखते हुए ऐसा समझते थे कि अर्जुन और भीमसेन मेरे ही पीछे लगे हुए हैं। भारत! ऐसा सोचकर वे हर्ष और उत्साह खो बैठते तथा लड़खड़ाकर गिर पड़ते थे
sañjaya uvāca | abhiyātīti manvānāḥ petur mamluśna bhārata | te sarve parasparaṃ praharantas tathā bhayāt sarvā diśo vilokayamānā evaṃ mene—arjuno bhīmasenaś ca mamaiva pṛṣṭhato ’nuyātau | bhārata | iti matvā te harṣotsāhau jahruḥ skhalitvā ca nipetuḥ |
Sanjaya said: O Bharata, imagining that they were being charged at, those men collapsed in confusion. Striking one another and, in fear, casting their eyes toward every direction, they convinced themselves that Arjuna and Bhimasena were pursuing close behind me. Thinking so, they lost their joy and fighting spirit, and, stumbling, fell to the ground.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and misperception destroy courage: when the mind imagines imminent threat, discipline collapses, leading to disorder and self-inflicted harm—an ethical warning about panic overriding duty and reason in war.
Sanjaya describes warriors who, believing Arjuna and Bhima are pursuing from behind, panic—striking one another, looking in all directions, losing enthusiasm, and finally stumbling and falling.
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