Shloka 40
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
विमुखांश्रैव तान् दृष्टवा द्रौणिचापच्युतै:शरै:
vimukhāṁś caiva tān dṛṣṭvā drauṇi-cāpa-cyutaiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya dit : Voyant ces guerriers se détourner—atteints par les flèches décochées de l’arc de Drauṇi—il nota leur recul comme un signe visible de la pression du combat et des fluctuations du moral sur le champ de bataille, où prouesse et peur, l’une comme l’autre, font quitter aux hommes la position qu’ils avaient choisie.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, inner resolve is tested by visible force: when struck by a powerful warrior’s arrows, even fighters may turn away. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness with wavering, a recurring ethical pressure-point within kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya reports that certain warriors are seen turning away/retreating after being hit by arrows shot from Drauṇi’s bow, indicating Drauṇi’s effectiveness and a momentary shift in the battle’s momentum.