Shloka 77
त॑ समीपस्थितं दृष्टवा लेलिहानमिवानलम् । जयद्रथस्य गोप्तार: संशयं परमं गता:,अपनी लपटोंसे सबको चाट जानेवाली आगके समान अर्जुनको निकट खड़ा देख जयद्रथके रक्षक भारी संशयमें पड़ गये
taṁ samīpasthitaṁ dṛṣṭvā lelihānam ivānalam | jayadrathasya goptāraḥ saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing Arjuna standing close by—like a blazing fire that seems to lick up everything with its tongues of flame—Jayadratha’s protectors were seized by the deepest doubt and alarm. In that moment, their confidence in guarding him wavered before Arjuna’s overwhelming, righteous fury and resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how steadfast resolve aligned with a perceived righteous cause can shake even strong defenses: moral and psychological force in dharmic warfare is as decisive as weapons. It also shows the ethical pressure of protecting an unjust act—those guarding Jayadratha falter when confronted by Arjuna’s determined pursuit of accountability.
Arjuna has come very near, and his presence is compared to an all-consuming fire. Seeing him so close, Jayadratha’s guards—tasked with preventing Arjuna from reaching and killing Jayadratha—are thrown into extreme doubt and fear, sensing that their protective formation may fail.