Shloka 19
यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगा: । त्रसेयुनिनिदं श्रुत्वा तथासीदत तद्धलम्
yathā siṁhasya nadataḥ svanaṁ śrutvetare mṛgāḥ | traseyur ninidaṁ śrutvā tathāsīdat tad balam ||
जैसे गरजते हुए सिंह की ध्वनि सुनकर वन के अन्य पशु काँप उठते हैं, वैसे ही उस शंखनाद को सुनकर कौरव-सेना का उत्साह शिथिल पड़ गया और वह खिन्न-सी हो गई।
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that inner strength and moral confidence manifest as psychological power: a single commanding signal can unsettle an opposing force. In dharmic literature, fear often arises from inner doubt, while steadiness comes from conviction and purpose.
As the armies prepare for Kurukṣetra, a powerful sound—understood in context as the Pandava side’s conch-blast—reverberates. Hearing it, the Kaurava host loses enthusiasm and becomes dispirited, likened to forest beasts trembling at a lion’s roar.