Shloka 44
ततः प्रदुद्रुवे सैन्यं पजचालानां विशाम्पते । सम्भ्रान्तरूपमार्त च न परस्परमैक्षत,प्रजानाथ! तदनन्तर पांचालोंकी सेना भ्रान्त एवं आर्त होकर भाग चली। उसके सैनिक एक-दूसरेको देखते नहीं थे
tataḥ pradudruve sainyaṃ pāñcālānāṃ viśāmpate | sambhrāntarūpam ārtaṃ ca na parasparam aikṣata prajānātha ||
Sañjaya said: Thereupon, O lord of the people, the army of the Pāñcālas broke and fled. Confused in appearance and stricken with distress, they could not even look upon one another—so complete was the panic that dissolved their order.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can rapidly dissolve cohesion in a collective: when panic overtakes an army, even basic mutual recognition fails. Ethically, it implies the importance of steadiness, leadership, and disciplined awareness in crisis—without which strength and numbers become ineffective.
After a preceding shock in the battle, the Pāñcāla forces lose order and flee. They are described as bewildered and distressed, so disoriented that they do not even look at one another while running, indicating a full rout rather than an organized withdrawal.