Shloka 30
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय १) — भीष्मनिधनानन्तरं धृतराष्ट्रस्य शोकः, सेनायाः स्थितिः, कर्णस्मरणं च
Droṇa Parva, Chapter 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s grief after Bhīṣma’s fall and the army’s reorientation toward Karṇa
सा तदा55सीद् भशं सेना व्याकुलाश्चरथद्विपा । विपन्नभूयिष्ठनरा कृपणा ध्वस्तमानसा,उस समय आपकी सेनाके घोड़े, रथ और हाथी सब अत्यन्त व्याकुल हो उठे थे। उसके अधिकांश सैनिक अपने प्राण खो चुके थे। उसका दिल बैठ गया था और वह अत्यन्त दीन हो रही थी
sā tadā āsīd bhraśaṃ senā vyākulāś ca ratha-dvipāḥ | vipanna-bhūyiṣṭha-narā kṛpaṇā dhvasta-mānasā ||
Sañjaya said: At that time your army was thrown into utter disarray; its chariots and elephants were in panic. Most of its warriors had fallen, and the host—its courage broken and its mind shaken—sank into a pitiable state. The verse underscores how adharma-driven violence and tactical collapse quickly turn martial pride into fear, grief, and moral exhaustion.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological cost of war: when violence escalates and dharma is obscured, even a powerful force can rapidly lose inner steadiness—leading to panic, collapse of morale, and pitiable suffering.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava host has become chaotic: chariots and elephants are unsettled, many warriors have already fallen, and the army’s collective confidence has broken.