Shloka 76
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
एको दीर्णो दारयति सेनां सुमहतीमपि । तां दीर्णामनुदीर्यन्ते योधा: शूरतरा अपि,यदि सेनाका एक सैनिक भी उत्साहहीन होकर पीछे हटे तो वह अपनी ही देखा-देखी अत्यन्त विशाल सेनाको भी भगा देता है (उसके भागनेमें कारण बन जाता है)। उस सेनाके पलायन करनेपर बड़े-बड़े शूरवीर सैनिक भी भागनेको विवश होते हैं
eko dīrṇo dārayati senāṃ sumahatīm api | tāṃ dīrṇām anudīryante yodhāḥ śūratārā api ||
Vyāsa said: Even a single soldier, once broken in spirit and giving way, can throw into disorder even a very great army. When that army is thus shattered, even warriors of greater valor are carried along and are forced to flee in its wake.
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.