Shloka 71
Cakravyūha-saṃkalpaḥ, Saṃśaptaka-āhvānaṃ, Saubhadra-vikrīḍitam
Drona Parva, Adhyāya 32
कर्णमेवाभ्यधावन्त त्रास्यमाना: प्रहारिण: । उस समय आपकी सेनाके अन्य सैकड़ों पैदल, घुड़सवार, रथी और गजारोही योद्धा सात्यकिसे संत्रस्त होकर कर्णके ही पीछे दौड़े गये || ७० $ ।। धृष्टय्युम्नश्ष भीमश्न सौभद्रोडर्जुन एव च
sañjaya uvāca |
karṇam evābhyadhāvanta trāsyamānāḥ prahāriṇaḥ |
dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca bhīmaś ca saubhadro ’rjuna eva ca ||
Sañjaya said: Terrified by the blows, the assailants rushed only toward Karṇa. At that time, many other hundreds of warriors in your army—infantry, horsemen, chariot-fighters, and elephant-riders—alarmed by Sātyaki, fled and ran behind Karṇa. And Dṛṣṭadyumna, Bhīma, the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu), and Arjuna as well (advanced in that same surge).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear reshapes conduct in war: when courage collapses, soldiers seek shelter behind a perceived protector. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadiness under pressure and the responsibility of leaders to stabilize their troops.
Sātyaki’s assault throws many Kaurava fighters into panic. They retreat and cluster behind Karṇa, treating him as their main defense, while major Pāṇḍava champions—Dṛṣṭadyumna, Bhīma, Abhimanyu, and Arjuna—press forward in the battle.