Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam
A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement
न च तान् गणयामासु: सर्वे देवेन मोहिता: । प्रस्थितं सूतपुत्रं च जयेत्यूचुर्नराधिपा: । निर्जितान् पाण्डवांश्वैव मेनिरे तत्र कौरवा:,परंतु दैवसे मोहित होनेके कारण उन सबने उन उत्पातोंकों कुछ गिना ही नहीं। सूतपुत्रके प्रस्थान करनेपर सब राजा उसकी जय-जयकार बोलने लगे। कौरवोंको यह विश्वास हो गया कि अब पाण्डव परास्त हो जायूँगे
na ca tān gaṇayāmāsuḥ sarve devena mohitāḥ | prasthitaṃ sūtaputraṃ ca jayety ūcur narādhipāḥ | nirjitān pāṇḍavāṃś caiva menire tatra kauravāḥ |
Dijo Sañjaya: «Pero, cegados por el destino, ninguno prestó atención a aquellos presagios. Cuando el hijo del auriga (Karna) se puso en marcha, los reyes clamaron: “¡Victoria para él!”. Entonces los Kaurava se convencieron de que los Pāṇḍava ya habían sido vencidos.»
संजय उवाच
When people are overcome by moha (delusion) attributed here to daiva (fate), they ignore warning signs and become intoxicated with confidence. The verse cautions that triumphalism and selective attention—especially in war—can lead to grave misjudgment.
As Karna sets out, the assembled kings acclaim him with cries of victory. The Kauravas, disregarding ominous portents due to delusion, conclude that the Pāṇḍavas are as good as defeated.