Shloka 456
हाहेति सहसा शब्द: पाण्डूनां समजायत । शत्रुनाशक द्रोणाचार्यके द्वारा युधिष्ठिरका पीछा होता देख पाण्डवदलमें सहसा हाहाकार मच गया
hāheti sahasā śabdaḥ pāṇḍūnāṃ samajāyata |
Sañjaya said: All at once, a cry of “Hā! Hā!” arose among the Pāṇḍavas’ forces. Seeing Droṇācārya—renowned as a destroyer of foes—pressing in pursuit of Yudhiṣṭhira, the Pāṇḍava ranks were suddenly seized by alarm and broke into a collective wail, revealing how swiftly fear can ripple through an army when a righteous leader is threatened.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of war: when a dharmic leader like Yudhiṣṭhira is endangered, collective morale can collapse instantly. It underscores how leadership and perceived righteousness shape an army’s emotional stability.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava forces suddenly raise a distress cry upon seeing Droṇācārya aggressively pursuing Yudhiṣṭhira, causing immediate alarm and commotion in their ranks.