Shloka 35
व्यश्वनागरथान् दृष्टवा तत्र वीरान् सहस्रश: । धावमानान् रणे व्यग्रान् मन््ये शोचन्ति पुत्रका:,सहस्ौरों वीरोंको वहाँ युद्धके मैदानमें घोड़े, रथ और हाथियोंसे रहित एवं उद्विग्न होकर भागते देखकर मैं मानता हूँ कि मेरे पुत्र शोकमग्न हो गये होंगे
vy-aśva-nāga-rathān dṛṣṭvā tatra vīrān sahasraśaḥ | dhāvamānān raṇe vyagrān manye śocanti putrakāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing there thousands of warriors—bereft of horses, elephants, and chariots—running about in agitation on the battlefield, I judge that your sons have fallen into grief and despair. The scene suggests a collapse of order and morale, where the outward loss of war-gear mirrors an inward loss of confidence and resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner states—fear, grief, loss of resolve—manifest outwardly as disorder and flight. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, when confidence in one’s cause and conduct erodes, even great warriors can become ‘vyagra’ (unsettled), and the instruments of power (horses, elephants, chariots) no longer secure victory.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what he ‘sees’ on the battlefield: many warriors are running about in agitation, apparently separated from or deprived of their mounts and vehicles. From this, he infers that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (the Kauravas) have become grief-stricken and demoralized.