Shloka 96

क्षोभयन्ति सम तां सेनां मकरा: सागरं यथा | युधिष्ठिरको सब ओरसे घेरकर खड़े हुए पुरुषप्रवर पाण्डव उस सेनाको उसी प्रकार क्षुब्ध करने लगे, जैसे मगर समुद्रको

kṣobhayanti sma tāṃ senāṃ makarāḥ sāgaraṃ yathā |

Sañjaya said: The Pāṇḍavas, foremost among men, having surrounded that army on every side, began to throw it into turmoil, as makaras churn and agitate the ocean.

क्षोभयन्तिthey agitate/disturb
क्षोभयन्ति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootक्षोभय् (caus. of क्षुभ्)
FormLat (present), Parasmaipada, 3rd, plural
सम्completely, thoroughly
सम्:
Karma
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्
ताम्that
ताम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
सेनाम्army
सेनाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसेना
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
मकराःcrocodiles/makara-creatures
मकराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमकर
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
सागरम्ocean
सागरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसागर
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
यथाas, just as
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pāṇḍavas
S
senā (army)
M
makarāḥ
S
sāgara (ocean)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how disciplined, united effort can destabilize a larger opposing force. Ethically, it frames battlefield success not merely as brute strength but as the outcome of resolve, coordination, and purposeful action aligned with one’s chosen duty in war.

Sañjaya describes the Pāṇḍavas closing in from all sides and causing confusion in the enemy ranks. The army’s agitation is compared to the ocean being churned by powerful aquatic creatures (makaras), conveying widespread panic and loss of formation.