Shloka 6
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
उपप्लवन्ति वित्रस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस्तथा । सादिनश्चाश्वपृछे भ्यो भूमौ चैव पदातय:
upaplavanti vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tathā | sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau caiva padātayaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—उस समय भय से व्याकुल रथी रथों से कूद पड़े, घुड़सवार घोड़ों की पीठ से उछलकर उतर गए, और जो पैदल थे वे भी धरती पर इधर-उधर बिखर गए—सब अपने प्राण बचाने को भाग चले।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of martial discipline: when fear overwhelms, even trained warriors abandon their stations. Ethically, it contrasts outward status (chariot-warrior, horseman, infantry) with the inner quality of steadiness (dhairya), implying that true strength is composure under threat.
A sudden surge of terror spreads through the troops. Chariot-fighters jump down from their chariots, cavalrymen spring off their horses, and the infantry scatter on foot—an image of a force breaking formation and fleeing in confusion.