Shloka 23
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १८: संशप्तकगणयुद्धे अर्जुनस्यास्त्रप्रयोगः
Drona Parva, Chapter 18: Arjuna’s astra-deployment against the Saṃśaptakas
तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे त्रस्तास्तस्य पदानुगा: । व्यद्रवन्त भयाद् भीता यत्र दौर्योधनं बलम्,वीरवर सुधन्वाके धराशायी हो जानेपर उसके अनुगामी सैनिक भयभीत हो गये, वे भयके मारे वहीं भाग गये, जहाँ दुर्योधनकी सेना थी
tasmin nipatite vīre trastās tasya padānugāḥ | vyadravanta bhayād bhītā yatra dauryodhanaṃ balam ||
Sañjaya dit : Quand ce héros tomba, ses partisans, saisis d’effroi, rompirent les rangs. Frappés de peur, ils s’enfuirent aussitôt vers l’endroit où se tenait la force principale de Duryodhana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological reality that courage in war is often collective and leader-dependent: when a prominent warrior falls, followers may abandon resolve and seek refuge with a stronger formation. It implicitly contrasts fear-driven flight with the steadiness expected in kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya reports that after a certain hero is struck down and lies fallen, the troops who had been following him become frightened and scatter. They run toward the sector where Duryodhana’s main army is positioned, seeking protection and regrouping.