Shloka 5
Droṇa’s Withdrawal, Death, and the Kaurava Rout (द्रोणनिधन-प्रसङ्गः)
ते सर्वतो विद्रवन्तो योधा विध्वस्तचेतना:
te sarvato vidravanto yodhā vidhvastacetanāḥ
Sañjaya sprach: Jene Krieger, deren Geist durch den Schock der Schlacht zerschmettert war, flohen in alle Richtungen—ein Bild dafür, wie Furcht und Verwirrung Disziplin und Entschlossenheit im moralischen wie körperlichen Chaos des Krieges auflösen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, inner steadiness (cetanā, mental composure) is as decisive as physical strength; when the mind collapses under fear and shock, even trained warriors abandon order and duty, showing the ethical tragedy of conflict where dharma is strained by panic and survival-instinct.
Sañjaya reports that the fighters are scattering and fleeing in every direction, overwhelmed and mentally disoriented—signaling a moment of rout or breakdown in the battle line.