Shloka 203
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
प्राद्रवनू सहसा भीता: शकुनेश्व॒ पदानुगा: । शत्रुदमन भीमसेनने शत्रुसेनाको विदीर्ण करके बड़े जोरसे सिंहनाद किया। उनकी उस गर्जनासे भयभीत हो शकुनिके पीछे चलनेवाले सारे सैनिक घोड़े और हाथियोंसहित सहसा भाग खड़े हुए
prādravanū sahasā bhītāḥ śakuneś ca padānugāḥ | śatrudamana bhīmasenena śatrusenā vidīrṇā kṛtvā mahābalena siṃhanādaḥ kṛtaḥ | tasya garjanayā bhayabhītāḥ śakuneḥ paścād anugāḥ sarve sainikā aśvaiś ca hastibhiḥ saha sahasā palāyitāḥ |
Sañjaya said: Terrified, the troops who were following Śakuni suddenly fled. Bhīmasena, the subduer of foes, having shattered the enemy ranks, let out a mighty lion-roar. Struck with fear by that thunderous cry, all the soldiers moving behind Śakuni—along with their horses and elephants—broke and ran at once.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how courage and decisive action can break an opponent’s morale: fear spreads quickly among those who merely follow a leader without inner steadiness, while a resolute warrior’s presence and battle-cry can turn the tide psychologically.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma has smashed through the enemy formation and roars like a lion; hearing this, the soldiers who were trailing behind Śakuni panic and flee, even abandoning cohesion with their horses and elephants.