Shloka 33
तथा तु दृष्टवा योधास्ते प्रहृष्टो कृष्णपाण्डवौ । हतो राजा हतो राजेत्यूचिरे च भयार्दिता:,श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको इस प्रकार हर्षमग्न देख आपके समस्त सैनिक भयसे पीड़ित हो ऐसा कहते हुए कोलाहल करने लगे कि “हाय! राजा दुर्योधन मारे गये, मारे गये”
tathā tu dṛṣṭvā yodhās te prahṛṣṭau kṛṣṇa-pāṇḍavau | hato rājā hato rājety ūcire ca bhayārditāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) thus exultant, all those warriors of yours—stricken with fear—raised a tumult, crying again and again, “The king is slain! The king is slain!” (meaning Duryodhana). The verse highlights how outward signs of confidence in leaders can swiftly reshape morale, turning uncertainty into panic and rumor amid the ethical chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, perception can become a force equal to weapons: the visible confidence of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna triggers fear-driven rumor among the opposing troops. Ethically, the verse underscores how quickly collective judgment collapses under भय (fear), leading to hasty conclusions and destabilizing conduct.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, upon seeing Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna rejoicing, the Kaurava soldiers panic and begin shouting that ‘the king’—understood as Duryodhana—has been killed, creating loud commotion in the ranks.