Shloka 68
घटोत्कचप्रयुक्तेन सिंहनादेन भीषिता: । प्रसुखरुवुर्गजा मूत्र विव्यथुश्न नरा भूशम्,घटोत्कचके द्वारा किये हुए सिंहनादसे भयभीत हो हाथियोंके पेशाब झड़ने लगे और मनुष्य भी अत्यन्त व्यथित हो उठे
sañjaya uvāca | ghaṭotkaca-prayuktena siṃha-nādena bhīṣitāḥ | prasusravur gajā mūtraṃ vivyathuś ca narā bhṛśam ||
Sañjaya said: Terrified by the lion-like roar raised by Ghaṭotkaca, the elephants began to dribble urine in fear, and the men too were shaken and distressed exceedingly—an ominous sign of panic spreading through the ranks amid the violence of war.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can rapidly destabilize even strong forces in war: psychological shock—here symbolized by Ghaṭotkaca’s terrifying roar—can break morale, producing visible signs of panic. Ethically, it underscores the destructive spread of terror in conflict and the vulnerability of armies to mental collapse.
Sañjaya describes Ghaṭotkaca unleashing a thunderous, lion-like battle-cry. The sound terrifies the battlefield: elephants show fear by involuntary urination, and human warriors become severely shaken and distressed, indicating a moment of widespread panic.