Shloka 92
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
विध्वस्तवर्मकवचं प्रविद्धायुधकार्मुकम् । व्यद्रवत् तावकं सैन्यं लोड्यमानं समन्ततः । सिंहार्दितमिवारण्ये यथा गजकुलं तथा
vidhvasta-varma-kavacaṁ praviddhāyudha-kārmukam | vyadravat tāvakaṁ sainyaṁ loḍyamānaṁ samantataḥ | siṁhārditam ivāraṇye yathā gaja-kulaṁ tathā ||
Sañjaya said: With armour and mail shattered, and with weapons and bows cast away, your army fled in disorder, being battered from every side—like a herd of elephants in the forest when assailed by a lion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and loss of protection (armour, weapons, cohesion) can collapse even a great force. Ethically, it underscores the fragility of adharma-based confidence in war: when inner resolve and order fail, the army scatters, driven by panic rather than duty.
Sañjaya reports to the Kaurava side that their troops, having lost armour and discarded weapons and bows, are being struck from all directions and are fleeing. He compares their flight to a herd of elephants in a forest thrown into turmoil when attacked by a lion.