Shloka 77
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
अपि चैषां भयं तीव्र पार्थेभ्यो5 भूत् सुदारुणम् । प्रेक्षमाणास्तदान्योन्यमाधावन्नगरं प्रति,उन्हें कुन्तीके पुत्रोंसे दारुण एवं तीव्र भय प्राप्त हुआ था। वे एक-दूसरेकी ओर देखते हुए नगरकी ओर भागने लगे
api caiṣāṃ bhayaṃ tīvraṃ pārthebhyo 'bhūt sudāruṇam | prekṣamāṇās tadānyonyam ādhāvann agaraṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: A fierce and dreadful fear of the Pārthas seized them. Then, glancing at one another, they fled in haste toward the city—fear breaking their resolve amid the press of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war-narrative terms, the verse highlights how fear can rapidly dissolve collective courage: when confidence collapses, people seek safety by following the movement of others, even without clear strategy. Ethically, it contrasts the ideal of steadfast kṣatriya resolve with the human tendency to panic under overwhelming threat.
Sañjaya reports that a group (implicitly warriors on the Kaurava side) becomes intensely frightened of the Pārthas. They look at each other in alarm and then run toward the city, indicating a retreat or rout in the midst of the conflict.