Shloka 18
सैन्यसंनिवेशः (Sainyasaṃniveśaḥ) — Deployment, Omens, and Yuddha-Dharma Conventions
पाञज्चजन्यस्थ निर्घोषं देवदत्तस्य चोभयो: । श्रुत्वा तु निनदं योधा: शकृन्मूत्रं प्रसुखुवुः,पांचजन्य और देवदत्त दोनों शंखोंकी ध्वनि सुनकर शत्रुपक्षके बहुत-से सैनिक भयके मारे मल-मूत्र करने लगे
pāñcajanyasya nirghoṣaṃ devadattasya cobhayoḥ | śrutvā tu ninadaṃ yodhāḥ śakṛn-mūtraṃ prasukhuvuḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hearing the thunderous blare of both conches—Pāñcajanya and Devadatta—many warriors of the opposing host were so overwhelmed by fear that they lost control of themselves, voiding stool and urine.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-psychological dimension of conflict: courage and inner composure are decisive, while fear can collapse dignity and effectiveness even before combat begins.
At the opening of the Kurukṣetra war, the conches Pāñcajanya and Devadatta are sounded; their powerful resonance unnerves many enemy soldiers, who panic and lose bodily control.