Shloka 10
Adhyāya 140: Rātriyuddhe Droṇa-prāpti-prayatnaḥ
Night engagement and the attempt to reach Droṇa
ते वध्यमाना: समरे भीमचापच्युतै: शरै: । प्राद्रवंस्तावका योधा: किमेतदिति चाब्रुवन्,भीमसेनके धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाणोंद्वारा समरांगणमें मारे जाते हुए आपके सैनिक भाग चले और आपसमें कहने लगे, अरे! यह क्या हुआ
te vadhyamānāḥ samare bhīmacāpa-cyutaiḥ śaraiḥ | prādravan stāvakā yodhāḥ kim etad iti cābruvan ||
Sanjaya said: Struck down on the battlefield by arrows released from Bhima’s bow, your warriors broke and fled. In confusion they cried to one another, “What is this that has happened?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how swiftly morale collapses when confronted by overwhelming prowess: in war, courage and cohesion are as decisive as weapons. It also implicitly reflects kṣatriya-dharma—fighters are expected to stand firm—so the flight of troops signals ethical and strategic breakdown under fear.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhima’s arrows are cutting down Kaurava warriors. Unable to withstand the assault, they scatter and flee, exclaiming in alarm and bewilderment, “What is this?”