Shloka 76
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
एको दीर्णो दारयति सेनां सुमहतीमपि । तां दीर्णामनुदीर्यन्ते योधा: शूरतरा अपि
eko dīrṇo dārayati senāṃ sumahatīm api | tāṃ dīrṇām anudīryante yodhāḥ śūratārā api ||
Bahkan seorang prajurit saja, bila patah semangat lalu mundur, dapat mengacaukan bala tentara yang sangat besar. Ketika pasukan itu telah tercerai-berai, para kesatria yang lebih gagah pun terseret arusnya dan terpaksa lari mengikutinya.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Collective strength in war depends on morale and cohesion; one person’s collapse can trigger a chain reaction, so leaders must guard against panic and sustain steadiness (dhairya) and discipline.
In Bhīṣma Parva’s opening battle context, Vyāsa reflects on how an army can unravel: when one soldier breaks and retreats, the formation fractures, and even brave fighters may be swept into retreat as the rout spreads.