Shloka 276
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
अभज्यत महाराज न च द्वौ सह धावत: । महाराज! महेन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी भीष्मजीके द्वारा मारी जाती हुई उस विशाल सेनामें भगदड़ मच गयी थी। दो आदमी भी एक साथ नहीं भागते थे
abhajyata mahārāja na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ |
Sañjaya said: O King, the army broke apart in panic; as it was being cut down by Bhīṣma—whose prowess was like Indra’s—there was such a rout that not even two men fled together in the same direction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked fear dissolves collective strength: when discipline and mutual support collapse, even a large force becomes ineffective. The verse highlights how inner steadiness and cohesion are crucial to kṣatriya conduct in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma is cutting down the opposing troops with overwhelming might, causing a chaotic stampede in which soldiers scatter so completely that they do not even flee in pairs.