Shloka 61
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
न संवारयितुं शक्ता तव सेना जनाधिप । मदमूर्च्छान्वितात्मा वै प्रमदेवाध्वनि स्थिता
na saṃvārayituṃ śaktā tava senā janādhipa | mada-mūrcchānvita-ātmā vai pramadevādhvani sthitā ||
サンジャヤは言った。人の主よ、あなたの軍は彼らを食い止めることができなかった。酔いと昏迷に心を奪われ、軽率な女のように道に立ち尽くし、突進する戦士たちを阻めなかったのである。この偈は、戦において規律と明晰さを失えば、大軍でさえ守りの力ではなく、ただの受け身の障害となることを示している。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
An army (or any collective) collapses in effectiveness when overcome by ‘mada’ (reckless arrogance/intoxication) and ‘mūrcchā’ (stupor/confusion). The ethical implication is that leadership and dharma in conflict require steadiness, alertness, and self-control; without these, strength becomes useless.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the Kaurava host could not restrain the advancing fighters. The army, mentally overwhelmed, stood inert in the path—likened to a stupefied, heedless woman—signaling a breakdown of order and resistance at that moment in the battle.