Shloka 14
Adhyāya 140: Rātriyuddhe Droṇa-prāpti-prayatnaḥ
Night engagement and the attempt to reach Droṇa
एवं ब्रुवाणा योधास्ते तावका भयपीडिता: । शरपातं समुत्सृज्य स्थिता युद्धदिदृक्षव:,ऐसा कहते हुए आपके योद्धा भयसे पीड़ित हो बाण मारनेका कार्य छोड़कर युद्धके दर्शक बनकर खड़े हो गये
evaṁ bruvāṇā yodhās te tāvakā bhayapīḍitāḥ | śarapātaṁ samutsṛjya sthitā yuddhadidṛkṣavaḥ ||
Ketika kata-kata itu terucap, para prajuritmu—terhimpit ketakutan—menghentikan hujan panah dan berdiri terpaku, tidak lagi mendesak pertempuran, melainkan hanya menatap perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear (bhaya) can overpower resolve and disrupt one’s role-based duty: warriors who should act become mere onlookers. Ethically, it points to the danger of letting inner agitation replace disciplined action in a crisis.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava fighters, shaken by what has been said, stop releasing arrows and stand watching the combat, indicating a collapse of momentum and confidence on that side.