Shloka 14
उत्तरो जयमावेदयति—विराटस्य हर्षः, द्यूतनिषेधः
Uttara’s Victory Report—Virāṭa’s Rejoicing and the Counsel Against Gambling
एवं सर्वाणि सैन्यानि भग्नानि भरतर्षभ । व्यद्रवन्त दिश: सर्वा निराशानि स्वजीविते,भरतश्रेष्ठ जनमेजय! इस प्रकार सारी सेनाका व्यूह टूट गया। सब सैनिक अपने जीवनसे निराश होकर चारों दिशाओंमें भागने लगे
evaṁ sarvāṇi sainyāni bhagnāni bharatarṣabha | vyadravanta diśaḥ sarvā nirāśāni svajīvite || bharataśreṣṭha janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus, O bull among the Bharatas, all the divisions of the army were shattered. Despairing of their very lives, the soldiers fled in every direction.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata insight: when order and cohesion (a battle-formation, discipline, leadership) collapse, fear spreads rapidly and even large forces disintegrate. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness and duty with panic-driven flight.
Vaiśampāyana reports to King Janamejaya that the army’s formation has been broken; the troops, losing hope of survival, scatter and flee in all directions—signaling a decisive rout at this moment in the battle episode.