Shloka 453

व्यशीर्यत सपाञज्चाला वातेनेव बलाहका: । जैसे वायु बादलोंको उड़ाकर छिज्न-भिन्न कर देती है, उसी प्रकार द्रोणाचार्यके द्वारा क्षत-विक्षत हुई पांचालोंसहित पाण्डवोंकी विशाल सेना तितर-बितर हो गयी

vyaśīryata sapāñcālā vāteneva balāhakāḥ |

Sañjaya said: Like clouds torn apart and scattered by the wind, the vast army of the Pāṇḍavas—together with the Pāñcālas—was shattered and dispersed, mangled by Droṇācārya’s assault.

व्यशीर्यतwas shattered / was scattered
व्यशीर्यत:
TypeVerb
Rootशीॄ (धातु)
FormLan (Imperfect), Atmanepada, 3, Singular
that (army/host)
:
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पाञ्चालाthe Panchalas
पाञ्चाला:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाञ्चाल (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
वातेनby the wind
वातेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवात (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
इवas/like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
बलाहकाःclouds
बलाहकाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootबलाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pāṇḍavas
P
Pāñcālas
D
Droṇācārya
W
wind
C
clouds

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the fragility of collective strength: an army’s power depends on cohesion and morale, and overwhelming force can rapidly dissolve that unity—like wind dispersing clouds—reminding readers of the impermanence of worldly formations amid violence.

Sañjaya reports that Droṇācārya’s attack has grievously damaged the Pāṇḍava host along with their Pāñcāla allies, causing the large formation to break apart and scatter across the battlefield.