Shloka 21
तस्मिन् दशर थे क्रुद्धे वर्तमाने महाभये । तावकानां परेषां वा प्रेक्षका रथिनो5भवन्
tasmin daśarathe kruddhe vartamāne mahābhaye | tāvakānāṁ pareṣāṁ vā prekṣakā rathino 'bhavan |
Sañjaya said: When that ten-horsed chariot was in furious motion amid the great terror of battle, the chariot-warriors—whether of your side or the enemy’s—became mere spectators, their attention fixed on that awe-inspiring encounter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming prowess and the intensity of battle can momentarily suspend ordinary combat roles: even seasoned warriors become onlookers. Ethically, it underscores the sobering power of war—its capacity to inspire awe and fear, reminding listeners that martial glory is inseparable from peril and terror.
Sañjaya reports that as a formidable ten-horsed chariot moved in wrath during a terrifying phase of the battle, chariot-fighters from both the Kaurava and opposing armies paused as spectators, watching the unfolding confrontation rather than actively engaging.