Shloka 72

Devanagari script

तत: सरथनागाश्वा समकम्पत वाहिनी । पश्यतो भीमसेनस्य पार्षतस्य च पश्यत:,तदनन्तर भीमसेन और धृष्टद्युम्नके देखते-देखते रथ, हाथी और घुड़सवारोंसहित सारी पाण्डव-सेना काँपने लगी

Transliteration

tataḥ sa-ratha-nāgāśvā samakampata vāhinī | paśyato bhīmasenasya pārṣatasya ca paśyataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, before the very eyes of Bhīmasena and of Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna), the Pāṇḍava host began to tremble—its chariots, elephants, and cavalry shaken together.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

स-रथ-नाग-अश्वाhaving chariots, elephants, and horses (i.e., with charioteers/elephantry/cavalry)

वाहिनीarmy

समकम्पतtrembled/shook

पश्यतःwhile (he) was watching / of the watching (one)

भीमसेनस्यof Bhimasena

पार्षतस्यof the son of Prishata (Dhrishtadyumna)

चand

पश्यतःwhile (he) was watching / of the watching (one)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīmasena

Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna)

Pāṇḍava army (vāhinī)

chariots (ratha)

elephants (nāga)

horses/cavalry (aśva)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a key ethical and practical lesson of war: collective strength depends on steadiness of mind. Even a well-equipped force—chariots, elephants, and cavalry—can falter if fear spreads. Kṣatriya-dharma therefore demands not only weapons and numbers but also disciplined courage and leadership that stabilizes morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava host begins to shake and lose composure, with all its major divisions affected, and this occurs openly in the sight of Bhīma and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata). The line marks a moment of sudden battlefield agitation, suggesting the impact of an opposing assault or a terrifying display of power.