Shloka 40
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
अवाकीर्यत संरब्धैर्विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत: । एकैकश्न तदा योध: पञ्चभि: सप्तभिव्वृत:,उसके द्वारा रचे गये नाना प्रकारके म्लेच्छगणोंकी वे विशाल सेनाएँ जो अनेक प्रकारके कवच आदिसे आच्छादित थीं। सबने भाँति-भाँतिके आयुध धारण कर रखे थे और सभी सैनिक क्रोधमें भरे हुए थे। उन्होंने विश्वामित्रके देखते-देखते उनकी सेनाको तितर-बितर कर दिया। विश्वामित्रके एक-एक सैनिकको म्लेच्छ-सेनाके पाँच-पाँच, सात-सात योद्धाओंने घेर रखा था
avākīryata saṃrabdhair viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ | ekaikaśas tadā yodhaḥ pañcabhiḥ saptabhir vṛtaḥ ||
Before Viśvāmitra’s very eyes, his forces were thrown into confusion and scattered by the enraged warriors. At that time each of his soldiers found himself surrounded—one by five, another by seven—so that the opposing host overwhelmed them by sheer numbers and fury.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger-driven aggression and numerical superiority can rout even an organized force; ethically, it cautions that krodha (wrath) and uncontrolled violence rapidly turn conflict into chaos, where individuals become isolated and vulnerable.
A furious opposing host scatters Viśvāmitra’s army in his very presence. Each of his warriors is individually surrounded by multiple enemies—five or seven—showing a coordinated encirclement that breaks the formation and overwhelms the troops.