Shloka 36
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
भवत्यवस्थिते यत्ते पाण्डवा मन्दचेतस: । द्रविष्यन्ति सहामात्या: पञ्चाला: सूंजयाश्व ह,“तुम्हारे सावधानीके साथ खड़े होते ही मूर्ख पाण्डव, पांचाल और सूंजय अपने मन्त्रियोंसहित भाग जायँगे
bhavaty avasthite yat te pāṇḍavā mandacetasaḥ | draviṣyanti sahāmātyāḥ pañcālāḥ sūñjayāś ca ||
Sañjaya said: “When you stand firmly on guard, the Pandavas—faint-hearted in counsel—along with their ministers, will break and flee; and so too will the Pañcālas and the Sūñjayas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield outcomes are shaped not only by weapons but by steadiness, leadership, and morale. It also warns ethically against overconfidence and contempt for opponents—boastful predictions can be a form of psychological warfare, yet they may distort judgment and dharmic discernment.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describing (or relaying) a confident assessment that if the addressed warrior stands firmly in position, the Pandava side—Pandavas along with their ministers, and allied Pañcālas and Sūñjayas—will lose heart and flee.