Shloka 46
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
राजन! जैसे युद्धमें देवराज इन्द्र दैत्योंपर कुपित होते हैं, उसी प्रकार आपके पुत्रोंपर धृष्टद्युम्नका क्रोध बहुत बढ़ा हुआ था। उसके मोहनास्त्रके प्रयोगसे अपनी चेतना और धैर्य खोकर आपके नरवीर पुत्र रणभूमिमें मोहित हो गये ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
rājan! yathā yuddhe devarāja indro daityeṣu kupito bhavati, tathā tava putreṣu dhṛṣṭadyumnasya krodho bahu vardhitaḥ | tasya mohanāstrasya prayogena svāṃ cetanāṃ dhairyaṃ ca vihāya tava naravīrāḥ putrā raṇabhūmau mohitaḥ abhavan ||
pradudruvuḥ kuravaś caiva sarve savājināgāḥ sarathāḥ samantāt |
parītakālān iva naṣṭasaṃjñān mohopetāṃs tava putrān niśamya ||
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、戦において神々の王インドラがダイティヤ族に憤るように、ドリシュタデュムナの怒りもまた御子らに向かって激しく燃え上がった。彼が迷妄の武器を放つと、御子ら—人中の勇士—は意識と沈着を失い、戦場で惑わされた。御子らが迷いに覆われ、死に捕らわれたかのように無感覚となったのを見て、クル軍は戦車・馬・象を伴い、四方へと潰走した。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner clarity and steadiness are decisive in ethical action and warfare: when consciousness and composure are lost—whether through fear, anger, or delusion—strength and numbers collapse into panic. It implicitly warns that adharma-driven conflict erodes morale and discernment, making one vulnerable to psychological defeat.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Dhrishtadyumna, enraged at the Kauravas, uses a deluding weapon (mohanāstra). Dhritarashtra’s sons become bewildered and senseless on the battlefield, and seeing them in that state, the Kuru forces—along with chariots, horses, and elephants—scatter and flee in all directions.