Shloka 40
हाहाकृतं भृशं त्रस्तं लीयमानं परस्परम् । अलातचक्रवत् सैन्यं तदाभ्रमत तावकम्,महाराज! उस समय अत्यन्त भयभीत हो हाहाकार मचाती और एक-दूसरेकी आड़में छिपती हुई आपकी सेना अलातचक्रके समान वहाँ चक्कर काटने लगी
hāhākṛtaṁ bhṛśaṁ trastaṁ līyamānaṁ parasparam | alātacakravat sainyaṁ tadābhramata tāvakam, mahārāja ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, at that time your army—utterly terrified—raised a loud cry of panic, pressed in upon one another seeking cover, and whirled about on the field like a spinning firebrand, its order and resolve collapsing under fear.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear dissolves collective discipline: when courage and order fail, even a great host becomes directionless, ‘spinning’ without purpose. Ethically, it underscores the kṣatriya ideal that steadiness and self-control are crucial in war; panic leads to harm for one’s own side and accelerates defeat.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces have become extremely frightened, crying out and trying to shield themselves behind one another. Their formations break, and they move in chaotic circles, compared to the fiery ring seen when a burning brand is rapidly whirled.