Shloka 40
हाहाकृतं भृशं त्रस्तं लीयमानं परस्परम् । अलातचक्रवत् सैन्यं तदाभ्रमत तावकम्,महाराज! उस समय अत्यन्त भयभीत हो हाहाकार मचाती और एक-दूसरेकी आड़में छिपती हुई आपकी सेना अलातचक्रके समान वहाँ चक्कर काटने लगी
hāhākṛtaṁ bhṛśaṁ trastaṁ līyamānaṁ parasparam | alātacakravat sainyaṁ tadābhramata tāvakam, mahārāja ||
قال سنجيا: «أيها الملك، في ذلك الحين كان جيشك مذعورًا غاية الذعر، يطلق صرخات الفزع، ويتزاحم بعضه على بعض طلبًا للستر، ويَدور في ساحة القتال كالشعلة الدوّارة؛ وقد انهار النظام والعزم تحت وطأة الخوف.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear dissolves collective discipline: when courage and order fail, even a great host becomes directionless, ‘spinning’ without purpose. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal that steadiness and self-control are crucial in war; panic leads to harm for one’s own side and accelerates defeat.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces have become extremely frightened, crying out and trying to shield themselves behind one another. Their formations break, and they move in chaotic circles, compared to the fiery ring seen when a burning brand is rapidly whirled.