Shloka 11
भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements
न विषेहुस्तदा राजन दुद्ग॒वुस्ते समन््ततः । विहाय सात्यकिं राजन् समरे युद्धदुर्मदम्
na viṣehuḥ tadā rājan dudruvuḥ te samantataḥ | vihāya sātyakiṃ rājan samare yuddha-durmadam ||
Sañjaya said: “At that time, O King, they could not endure him; they fled in all directions. Leaving Sātyaki behind on the battlefield—intoxicated with the fierce pride of combat—(he continued to press the fight).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral-psychological reality of war: when confronted by overwhelming prowess, even trained warriors may lose steadiness and scatter. It implicitly contrasts endurance (kṣānti/steadfastness) with the destabilizing force of fear and the intoxicating momentum of battle-pride.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the opposing fighters could not withstand the onslaught and fled in every direction. In the turmoil, Sātyaki remains on the field, characterized as fiercely battle-driven (yuddha-durmada), continuing the combat as others break formation.