Shloka 316

वित्रेसुस्तावका: सैन्या: शकृन्मूत्रे च सुखु॒वुः पाण्डव-महारथी भीमसेनको गदा उठाये देख आपके सैनिक भयसे थर्रा उठे और मल- मूत्र करने लगे

sañjaya uvāca | vitrēsus tāvakāḥ sainyāḥ śakṛn-mūtre ca sukhuvuḥ | pāṇḍava-mahārathī bhīmasenaḥ gadām utthāya dṛṣṭvā tava sainyā bhayena tharatharāyantaḥ mala-mūtraṃ cakruḥ |

Sanjaya said: Seeing Bhimasena—the great chariot-warrior of the Pandavas—raise his mace, your troops were struck with panic. Overwhelmed by fear, they trembled and even lost control of themselves, voiding excrement and urine. The scene underscores how terror can collapse discipline and dignity in war when confronted by overwhelming force.

वित्रेसुःthey trembled / were terrified
वित्रेसुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-त्रस् (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, परस्मैपदम्
तावकाःyour (belonging to you)
तावकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतावक (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सैन्याःsoldiers / troops
सैन्याः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शकृत्in feces / in excrement
शकृत्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशकृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मूत्रेin urine
मूत्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सुखुवुःthey voided / they discharged
सुखुवुः:
TypeVerb
Rootसु-हु (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, परस्मैपदम्
पाण्डव-महारथीthe Pandava great chariot-warrior
पाण्डव-महारथी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव + महारथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
B
Bhimasena (Bhima)
P
Pandavas
K
Kaurava troops (Tavaka army)
G
Gada (mace)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how fear can strip away composure and self-control, showing that inner steadiness is as crucial as physical strength in war; overwhelming force can break morale and discipline, leading to humiliation and collapse.

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that when Bhima, the Pandava champion, lifted his mace, the Kaurava soldiers panicked, trembled, and in their terror even voided excrement and urine.