Shloka 743
अभ्यद्रवन् महावेगास्तत:ः सैन्यं व्यदीर्यत । द्रोणाचार्यके मारे जानेपर कौरव-सैनिक युद्धका उत्साह खो बैठे, फिर पाण्डवों और सूंजयोंने उनपर बड़े वेगसे आक्रमण कर दिया। इससे कौरव-सेनामें भगदड़ मच गयी
abhydravan mahāvegās tataḥ sainyaṃ vyadīryata
Sañjaya said: Then the warriors, charging with tremendous speed, fell upon the army, and the Kaurava host was torn apart. With Droṇācārya slain, the Kaurava soldiers lost their will to fight; the Pāṇḍavas and their allies surged forward in a powerful assault, and panic and rout spread through the Kaurava ranks—showing how the fall of a leader can collapse morale and unravel an army’s discipline in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical and practical truth of warfare: when a central leader falls, an army’s cohesion and morale can collapse, leading to disorder and flight. It implicitly warns that strength is not only physical but also rooted in discipline, confidence, and leadership.
After Droṇācārya’s death, the Kaurava soldiers lose their fighting spirit. The Pāṇḍavas and their allies launch a swift, forceful assault, and the Kaurava formation breaks apart, resulting in panic and a rout.