Shloka 9
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः
Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana
स्वबलं च भयात् तस्य प्रायशो विमुखीकृतम् । अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरे भयंकर दिखायी देनेवाले उस राक्षसको आक्रमण करते देख उसके भयसे अपनी सेना प्रायः युद्धसे विमुख होकर भाग चली ।।
sañjaya uvāca | svabalaṃ ca bhayāt tasya prāyaśo vimukhīkṛtam | tato duryodhano rājā ghaṭotkacam upādravat ||
Sanjaya said: Struck by fear of him, their own forces were for the most part turned away from the fight. Then King Duryodhana charged against Ghaṭotkaca.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear can dissolve collective discipline and moral stamina in conflict; leadership is tested when panic spreads, and a ruler may try to re-anchor the army’s courage by directly confronting the cause of terror.
Ghaṭotkaca’s frightening assault causes the Kaurava forces to recoil and turn away from battle; seeing this, Duryodhana personally rushes to attack Ghaṭotkaca.