Mahabharata 1.175.40 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 40
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
अवाकीर्यत संरब्धैर्विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत: । एकैकश्न तदा योध: पञ्चभि: सप्तभिव्वृत:
avākīryata saṃrabdhair viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ | ekaikaśas tadā yodhaḥ pañcabhiḥ saptabhir vṛtaḥ ||
Di depan mata Viśvāmitra sendiri, para kesatria yang murka membuat pasukannya kacau lalu tercerai-berai. Saat itu tiap prajuritnya dikepung—ada yang oleh lima, ada yang oleh tujuh—hingga bala lawan menindih mereka dengan keunggulan jumlah dan amarah.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger-driven aggression and numerical superiority can rout even an organized force; ethically, it cautions that krodha (wrath) and uncontrolled violence rapidly turn conflict into chaos, where individuals become isolated and vulnerable.
A furious opposing host scatters Viśvāmitra’s army in his very presence. Each of his warriors is individually surrounded by multiple enemies—five or seven—showing a coordinated encirclement that breaks the formation and overwhelms the troops.
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