Shloka 36
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
तमुद्यन्तमुदीक्ष्याथ महेष्वासं महाबलम् | संत्रस्ता पाण्डवी सेना वातवेगहतेव नौ:,उस समय महाधनुर्धर महाबली भीष्मको युद्धके लिये उद्यत देख पाण्डवसेना वायुके वेगसे डगमग होनेवाली नौकाकी भाँति काँपने लगी
tam udyantam udīkṣyātha maheṣvāsaṃ mahābalam | saṃtrastā pāṇḍavī senā vātavega-hateva nauḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Bhīṣma—the mighty warrior, master of the great bow—rise up ready for battle, the Pāṇḍava army was seized with fear and began to tremble, like a boat rocked and battered by the force of the wind. The verse underscores how the presence of a formidable, duty-bound commander can shake morale on the battlefield, revealing the ethical weight of leadership and the psychological reality of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological dimension of warfare: a leader who embodies martial duty and prowess can decisively affect the opposing side’s courage. It points to how fear and morale are as consequential as weapons, and how the presence of a dharma-bound commander (Bhīṣma) carries ethical gravity and strategic impact.
Sañjaya reports that when Bhīṣma stands forth, ready to fight, the Pāṇḍava forces become frightened and begin to shake, compared to a boat buffeted by strong winds—an image conveying sudden instability and loss of composure.