Shloka 12
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
ते भीता मृद्यमानाश्ष प्रमृष्टा दीर्घबाहुना । आयोधनं जहुर्वीरा दृष्टवा तमतिमानिनम्,उस महाबाहु वीरने अपने बाणोंसे रौंदकर आपके सारे सिपाहियोंको मसल डाला। वे वीर सिपाही ऐसे डर गये कि उस अत्यन्त मानी शूरवीरको देखते ही युद्धका मैदान छोड़ देते थे
te bhītā mṛdyamānāś ca pramṛṣṭā dīrghabāhunā | āyodhanaṃ jahur vīrā dṛṣṭvā tam atimāninam ||
Sañjaya said: Struck down and crushed in the fighting, and utterly routed by that long-armed warrior, those heroes—seized by fear—abandoned the battlefield the moment they beheld him, so overbearing in his pride and prowess.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked pride and overwhelming force can break morale: fear spreads quickly in war, and even brave fighters may abandon duty when confronted with a seemingly invincible opponent—raising an ethical tension between steadfastness in kṣatriya-dharma and the human limits of courage.
Sañjaya reports that a powerful ‘long-armed’ warrior has crushed and routed the opposing fighters; terrified at the sight of this exceedingly proud and formidable hero, the warriors leave the battlefield.