Shloka 18
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
सम्पूर्ण सेनाके मनुष्य, हाथी और घोड़े घबराकर इधर-उधर भटकने लगे। सारी सेना गिरती-पड़ती भागने लगी। उनके अधिकांश सिपाही युद्धमें मारे गये या नष्ट हो गये और वह बार-बार युद्धभूमिमें ही चक्कर काटने लगी ।। नाभ्यदृश्यन्त वीरस्य केचिदग्रेग्रयकर्मण: । रिपव: पात्यमाना वै ये सहेयुर्धन॑जयम्,श्रेष्ठ कर्म करनेवाले वीर अर्जुनके सामने कोई भी शत्रु खड़े नहीं दिखायी देते थे, जो अर्जुनकी मार पड़नेपर उनका वेग सहन कर सके
n01bhyad5byanta v2brasya kecid agregraya-karma 47a 25 |
ripava 25 p01tyam01n01 vai ye saheyu 25 dhana f1jayam ||
Vaibamp01yana said: Before the heroic Arjunaa a0 a0the peerless doer of foremost deedsa a0 a0no enemies could be seen standing firm. Those who were being struck down could not endure the force of Dhana f1jaya; the opposing ranks broke, scattered, and were driven into flight, revealing the overwhelming momentum of righteous prowess on the battlefield.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological dimension of warfare: when a warrior of exceptional prowess advances with unwavering resolve, opponents lose cohesion and the capacity to resist. In epic ethics, such irresistible force is often framed as the fruition of disciplined skill and rightful purpose (k 63atriya-dharma), rather than mere aggression.
Vaibamp01yana describes Arjuna pressing forward so powerfully that no enemy remains visibly standing before him; those struck are being felled and cannot bear his onslaught. The scene conveys a rout: the opposing side collapses under Arjunabcbcs momentum.