Shloka 53
युधिष्ठिरस्य कृष्णार्जुनादि-समाश्वासनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira’s reassurance and praise of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki
ततो हाहेति सहसा नाद: समभवन्नूप । पाज्चाल्येन रणे दृष्टवा द्रोणमावारितं शरै:,राजन! रणक्षेत्रमें धृष्टद्युम्नके बाणोंसे द्रोणाचार्यकी गति अवरुद्ध हुई देख (कौरव- सेनामें) सहसा हाहाकार मच गया
tato hāheti sahasā nādaḥ samabhavan nṛpa | pāñcālyena raṇe dṛṣṭvā droṇam āvāritaṃ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Then, O king, a sudden cry of ‘Alas! Alas!’ arose. For when the Pāñcāla prince was seen in the battle checking Droṇa’s advance with a shower of arrows, the Kaurava host broke into an immediate wail—signaling both fear and moral shock at the momentary arrest of their foremost commander.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the momentum of war hinges on the perceived invincibility of leaders: when a great commander is even briefly checked, collective morale collapses into panic. Ethically, it underscores the heavy responsibility borne by commanders—many lives and minds depend on their steadiness and reputation.
Sañjaya reports that a sudden outcry arose in the Kaurava ranks when they saw the Pāñcāla prince (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) obstruct Droṇa’s movement in battle by striking him with arrows, momentarily halting his advance.