Shloka 8
विकीर्णमस्त्रं तद् दृष्टवा तथा भीमरयथं प्रति । उदीर्यमाणं द्रौणिं च निष्प्रतिद्वन्द्धमाहवे,वह अस्त्र भीमसेनके रथपर छा गया था। युद्धस्थलमें कोई प्रतिद्वन्द्धी योद्धा न होनेसे द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा प्रबल होता जा रहा था। पाण्डवोंकी सारी सेना हथियार डालकर (भयसे) अचेत हो गयी थी और युधिष्ठिर आदि महारथी युद्धसे विमुख हो गये थे। यह सब देखकर महातेजस्वी अर्जुन और भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण दोनों वीर बड़ी उतावलीके साथ रथसे कूदकर भीमसेनकी ओर दौड़े
vikīrṇam astraṃ tad dṛṣṭvā tathā bhīmarathaṃ prati | udīryamāṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca niṣpratidvanddham āhave ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that weapon spread out and cover the region toward Bhīma’s chariot, and seeing Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā rise in might on the battlefield with no equal opponent before him, the Pāṇḍava host was seized by panic—many cast down their arms and became as if senseless with fear, while great chariot-warriors such as Yudhiṣṭhira turned away from the fight. Witnessing this, the radiant Arjuna and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, both urgent to protect their own, leapt down from their chariot and ran toward Bhīmasena.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how fear can collapse collective resolve in war, and how dharmic leadership responds: when allies falter and an unmatched aggressor gains momentum, responsible protectors (Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa) act swiftly to defend the vulnerable and restore balance rather than abandon the field.
A powerful weapon effect spreads toward Bhīma’s chariot, while Aśvatthāmā appears unstoppable due to lack of a counter-opponent. The Pāṇḍava forces panic and some withdraw; seeing this, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa urgently leap from their chariot and rush toward Bhīma to aid him.