Shloka 56
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
व्याकुलं तदभूत् सर्व पाण्डवानां परै: सह
vyākulaṃ tad abhūt sarvaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ paraiḥ saha
Sañjaya said: Then the entire host of the Pāṇḍavas, together with their opposing foes, fell into turmoil and confusion—an image of the battlefield’s moral and emotional disarray as the struggle for victory overwhelms steadiness of mind.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a dharma-centered struggle, war generates collective agitation and loss of clarity; the verse highlights how quickly composure can collapse, implying the ethical need for steadiness, discipline, and discernment amid violence.
Sañjaya reports that, following the preceding battlefield development, the Pāṇḍava side and their opponents together become unsettled and confused, indicating a sudden surge of disorder in the combat.