Shloka 139
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
उल्कासहसै श्व सुसम्प्रदीप्तै- विभ्राजमानैश्न तथा प्रदीपै: । किरीटिवित्रासितसर्वयोधा चक्रे निवेशं ध्वजिनी कुरूणाम्,भारत! उपर्युक्त बातें कहते हुए आपके समस्त सैनिक सहस्रों जलती हुई मसालें तथा प्रकाशमान दीपोंके उजालेमें अपने-अपने शिबिरमें गये। कौरवसेनाके सम्पूर्ण सैनिकोंपर अर्जुनका त्रास छा रहा था। इसी अवस्थामें उस सेनाने रातमें विश्राम किया
sañjaya uvāca |
ulkāsahasraiś ca susampradīptaiḥ vibhrajyamānaiś ca tathā pradīpaiḥ |
kirīṭī-vitrāsita-sarva-yodhā cakre niveśaṃ dhvajinī kurūṇām, bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: ‘With thousands of blazing torches and with lamps shining brightly, the Kuru host made its night encampment, O Bhārata. All the warriors were gripped by fear, for Kirīṭin (Arjuna) had struck terror into them.’ In ethical tone, the verse underscores how prowess in war can overwhelm an army’s morale: fear spreads through the ranks, shaping decisions (here, withdrawing into camp) even before the next day’s combat begins.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological truth in warfare: fear can spread through an entire force when confronted by exceptional valor. Such fear influences collective action—here, the Kuru army’s decision to settle into camp under blazing lights—showing that inner states (courage or terror) can be as decisive as weapons.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, amid the glow of thousands of torches and lamps, the Kuru host withdrew to its night encampment. The warriors are described as being under Arjuna’s terror (Kirīṭin), indicating shaken morale at the close of the day’s fighting.