Shloka 12
त॑ रथं मेघसंकाशं वैयाप्रपरिवारणम् । संदृश्य पाण्डुपञ्चालास्त्रस्ता ह्वासन् विशाम्पते,प्रजानाथ! व्याप्रचर्मसे आच्छादित और मेघगर्जनके समान गम्भीर घोष करनेवाले उस रथको देखकर पाण्डव तथा पांचाल-सैनिक त्रस्त हो उठे
taṁ rathaṁ meghasaṅkāśaṁ vaiyāpraparivāraṇam | saṁdṛśya pāṇḍupañcālāstrastā hvāsan viśāmpate prajānātha | vyāpracarmase āchāditaṁ ca meghagarjanavat gambhīraghoṣam ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Oh señor del pueblo, oh soberano de los hombres: cuando los Pāṇḍavas y los guerreros de Pañcāla vieron aquel carro, oscuro y enorme como una nube de lluvia, cercado de cubiertas protectoras y guardas de cuero, y resonando con un bramido profundo como el trueno, quedaron sobrecogidos por el miedo y la agitación.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sensory displays of power—formidable appearance, protective armor, and thunder-like sound—can destabilize the mind. In the ethical pressure of war, steadiness (dhairya) becomes as crucial as weapons; fear arises naturally, but warriors are tested by whether they can regain composure and act according to duty.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the Pāṇḍavas and their Pañcāla allies see an imposing chariot, cloud-dark and roaring like thunder, covered with protective hide-guards. The sight and sound intimidate them, and they become alarmed on the battlefield.