Shloka 46
Bhagadatta’s Advance, the Saṃśaptaka Challenge, and Arjuna’s Counterstrike (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय २६)
ते त्वाशुगतिना तेन त्रास्यमाना नरर्षभा:
te tv āśugatinā tena trāsyamānā naraṛṣabhāḥ
But those bull-like men, shaken and thrown into panic by his swift onrush, were driven into fear as the battle’s momentum turned against them.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest warriors can be overtaken by fear when confronted with overwhelming speed and force; the verse highlights how quickly confidence can collapse on the battlefield, underscoring the need for steadiness and disciplined courage.
Sañjaya reports that a group of leading fighters, described as ‘bulls among men,’ are being frightened due to the rapid advance/attack of a particular combatant, indicating a sudden shift in battlefield pressure.