Shloka 87
तद् बाणैररदितं यूथं रक्षसां पीनवक्षसाम् । सिंहेनेवार्दितं वन््यं गजानामाकुलं कुलम्,उन बाणोंसे पीड़ित हुआ चौड़ी छातीवाले राक्षसोंका वह समूह सिंहके सताये हुए जंगली हाथियोंके झुंडकी भाँति व्याकुल हो उठा
tad bāṇair arditaṁ yūthaṁ rakṣasāṁ pīnavakṣasām | siṁhenevārditaṁ vanyaṁ gajānām ākulaṁ kulam ||
Sañjaya said: Struck and harried by those arrows, that band of broad-chested Rākṣasas became distressed and scattered—like a wild herd of elephants thrown into confusion when assailed by a lion. The image underscores how disciplined martial force can break even formidable strength when it is driven by fear and disorder rather than steadiness.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that sheer physical might (the ‘broad-chested’ Rākṣasas) collapses when composure and cohesion are lost; in war, morale and order often decide outcomes as much as strength.
Sañjaya describes a troop of Rākṣasa fighters being severely pelted with arrows, becoming agitated and disordered, compared to wild elephants panicking under a lion’s attack.