Shloka 29
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
तेन विद्राव्यमाणास्ते पाण्डवा: सर्वतो दिशम् । त्रातारं नाभ्यगच्छन्त: स्वेष्वनीकेषु भारत
tena vidrāvyamāṇās te pāṇḍavāḥ sarvato diśam | trātāraṃ nābhyagacchantaḥ sveṣv anīkeṣu bhārata ||
Didorong lari olehnya, para prajurit Pāṇḍava tercerai-berai ke segala penjuru. Wahai Bhārata, bahkan di dalam formasi mereka sendiri pun mereka tak menemukan pelindung yang dapat menjadi tumpuan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic: when cohesion and dependable protection (trātṛ) collapse, even a strong force can dissolve into panic. It implicitly stresses the dharmic importance of steadfast leadership and mutual protection within one’s own ranks.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava side is being driven back; their fighters flee in all directions and, even within their own formations, cannot find anyone who can protect or steady them.