Shloka 28
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
यथा सुरपति: शक्रस्त्रासयामास दानवान् | तथैव समरे राजा द्रावयामास पाण्डवान्,जैसे देवराज इन्द्रने दानवोंकों भयभीत किया था, उसी प्रकार भगदत्तने पाण्डवसैनिकोंको भयभीत करके भगाना आरम्भ किया
yathā surapatiḥ śakrast rāsayāmāsa dānavān | tathaiva samare rājā drāvayāmāsa pāṇḍavān |
Sañjaya said: Just as Śakra, lord of the gods, once struck terror into the Dānavas, so too in that battle the king (Bhagadatta) began to rout the Pāṇḍavas, driving them back in fear. The verse underscores how martial prowess, when compared to divine might, can rapidly turn the tide of war and shake even renowned warriors.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can spread swiftly in war when confronted by overwhelming force, and it frames human martial power through a divine analogy (Indra vs. Dānavas), reminding readers that morale and perceived might strongly influence outcomes.
Sañjaya reports that Bhagadatta, fighting on the Kaurava side, began to drive back the Pāṇḍava forces; his onslaught is likened to Indra terrifying the Dānavas, emphasizing the intensity of his attack and the resulting rout.