Shloka 12
Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)
वाहनानि च सर्वाणि शकृन्मूत्र॑ प्रसुखुवु: । शब्देन तस्य वीरस्य सिंहस्येवेतरे मृगा:
vāhanāni ca sarvāṇi śakṛn-mūtraṁ prasukhuvuḥ | śabdena tasya vīrasya siṁhasyevetare mṛgāḥ ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—সেই বীরের গর্জনধ্বনিতে কৌরবসেনার সব বাহন মল-মূত্র ত্যাগ করতে লাগল; যেমন অরণ্যে সিংহের গর্জন শুনে অন্য পশুরা ভয়ে কাতর হয়।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral-psychological dimension of war: fear and loss of composure can defeat strength and equipment. A warrior’s presence and reputation can break an opponent’s confidence, showing that inner steadiness is as decisive as outer force.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield reaction to a hero’s thunderous roar (understood here as Bhīma’s): the Kaurava host’s mounts and vehicles panic so intensely that they void excrement and urine, compared to forest animals terrified by a lion’s cry.