Shloka 15
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
तस्य तद् दहतः सैन्यं दृष्टवा चैव पराक्रमम् | सर्वे शान्तिपरा योधा धार्तराष्ट्रस्य पश्यत:,कौरव-योद्धाओंको दग्ध करनेवाले अर्जुनका वह पराक्रम देखकर सभी सैनिक दुर्योधनके सामने ही ठण्डे पड़ गये
tasya tad dahataḥ sainyaṁ dṛṣṭvā caiva parākramam | sarve śāntiparā yodhā dhārtarāṣṭrasya paśyataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als sie Arjunas Tatkraft sahen, wie er jenes Heer gleichsam verbrannte und in die Flucht schlug, verloren alle Krieger—vor den Augen des Sohnes Dhṛtarāṣṭras—den Kampfesmut und wandten sich dem Frieden zu; ihr Eifer kühlte angesichts dieser überwältigenden Machtdemonstration ab.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked aggression and unjust intent (adharma) can collapse when confronted by superior skill and rightful resolve; the verse highlights how morale and ethical confidence in war depend not only on numbers but on the perceived legitimacy and strength of the opposing side.
Arjuna’s devastating counterattack scorches and routs the opposing host; witnessing this directly, Duryodhana’s warriors lose their will to fight and become peace-seeking, their confidence broken by Arjuna’s overwhelming prowess.