Shloka 22
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
ते तु तद्बलमासाद्य बभज्जुः सर्वतोदिशम् । तच्छुत्वा दिद्वुतं सैन्यं विश्वामित्रस्तु गाधिज:
te tu tadbalam āsādya babhajjuḥ sarvato diśam | tac chrutvā didrutaṃ sainyaṃ viśvāmitras tu gādhijaḥ ||
Mais eux, s’étant portés contre cette force, la brisèrent et la dispersèrent de toutes parts. Apprenant que l’armée avait soudain été jetée dans la fuite et la confusion, Viśvāmitra—fils de Gādhi—(agit en conséquence). Le passage souligne que, lorsque la discipline commune s’effondre au combat, la puissance se change vite en déroute, rappelant le poids moral du commandement et de la constance dans l’épreuve.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Military power depends on cohesion and morale; when discipline breaks, even a strong force collapses. The verse implicitly stresses the ethical responsibility of leaders to maintain steadiness and order, since panic spreads faster than courage.
A force is met and then broken apart on all sides, causing the army to scatter in sudden flight. On hearing of this rout, Viśvāmitra (identified by his patronymic ‘son of Gādhi’) is introduced as reacting to the news, marking a narrative shift to his role.