Mahabharata 7.28.17 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 28, Shloka 17
Bhagadatta’s Astra and the Fall of the Prāgjyotiṣa King (भगदत्त-वधः / वैष्णवास्त्र-प्रसङ्गः)
तथा विक्षो भ्यमाणा सा पार्थेन तव वाहिनी । व्यशीर्यत महाराज नौरिवासाद्य पर्वतम्
tathā vikṣobhyamāṇā sā pārthena tava vāhinī | vyaśīryata mahārāja naur ivāsādya parvatam ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—হে মহারাজ, পার্থের দ্বারা প্রবলভাবে মথিত ও কাঁপানো তোমার সেনাবাহিনী ভেঙে চুরমার হয়ে ছিটকে পড়ল; যেমন পাহাড়ে আঘাত পেয়ে নৌকা টুকরো টুকরো হয়ে যায়।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, the loss of unity and steadiness (saṅghāta/saṅghabala) leads to rapid collapse: when a force is thoroughly shaken by a superior warrior, it breaks apart like a fragile vessel against an immovable obstacle. Implicitly, it points to the tragic consequences of adharma-driven conflict—once order and cohesion fail, destruction spreads swiftly.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s assault has thrown the Kaurava host into turmoil; the army is splintering and scattering. The simile of a boat smashing against a mountain conveys the suddenness and completeness of the rout caused by Arjuna’s force.
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