Shloka 60
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
तान् प्रयातान् महेष्वासानभिमन्युपुरोगमान् | भीमसेन भयाविष्टा धृष्टद्युम्नविमोहिता
sañjaya uvāca | tān prayātān maheṣvāsān abhimanyupurogāmān | bhīmasena-bhayāviṣṭā dhṛṣṭadyumna-vimohitā ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als jene großen Bogenschützen vorrückten, Abhimanyu an der Spitze, wurde dein Heer, o Herr der Menschen, von Furcht vor Bhīmasena ergriffen und durch Dhṛṣṭadyumnas Pfeile in Verwirrung gestürzt. Darum vermochte es die heranstürmenden Helden unter Abhimanyus Führung nicht aufzuhalten; wie eine berauschte, von Betäubung überwältigte Frau stand es schweigend auf dem Weg, unfähig zu handeln.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and mental confusion can paralyze even a large force: when courage and clarity collapse, numerical strength becomes ineffective. In a dharmic-war context, steadiness (dhairya) and disciplined leadership are essential to fulfill kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Abhimanyu and other great archers are advancing. The Kaurava troops are terrified by Bhīma and disoriented by Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s attack, so they fail to stop the assault and stand inert, unable to respond effectively.