Shloka 26
एते द्रवन्ति सम रथाश्वनागा: पदातिसड्घानतिमर्दयन्त: | सम्मुहमाना: कौरवा: सर्व एव द्रवन्ति नागा इव दाहभीता:,ये रथ, घोड़े और हाथी पैदलसमूहोंको कुचलते हुए भागे जा रहे हैं। प्रायः सभी कौरव अचेत-से होकर दावानलके दाहसे डरे हुए हाथियोंके समान पलायन कर रहे हैं
bhīmasena uvāca |
ete dravanti sama-rathāśva-nāgāḥ padāti-saṅghān atimardayantaḥ |
sammuhyamānāḥ kauravāḥ sarva eva dravanti nāgā iva dāha-bhītāḥ ||
Bhīma said: “Look—those troops are fleeing, crushing the masses of foot-soldiers as they run, with chariots, horses, and elephants all in confusion. Indeed, the Kauravas, every one of them, are retreating in a daze—like elephants terrified by the blaze of a forest fire.”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can collapse even a powerful force: when leadership and morale break, the strong trample their own ranks in panic. Ethically, it implies the kṣatriya ideal of steadiness in battle and warns against the destructive consequences of uncontrolled terror.
Bhīma observes the Kaurava forces in disarray. Chariots, horses, and elephants are retreating so chaotically that they crush the infantry, and the Kauravas flee like elephants frightened by a forest fire.