Shloka 14
Adhyāya 140: Rātriyuddhe Droṇa-prāpti-prayatnaḥ
Night engagement and the attempt to reach Droṇa
एवं ब्रुवाणा योधास्ते तावका भयपीडिता: । शरपातं समुत्सृज्य स्थिता युद्धदिदृक्षव:,ऐसा कहते हुए आपके योद्धा भयसे पीड़ित हो बाण मारनेका कार्य छोड़कर युद्धके दर्शक बनकर खड़े हो गये
evaṁ bruvāṇā yodhās te tāvakā bhayapīḍitāḥ | śarapātaṁ samutsṛjya sthitā yuddhadidṛkṣavaḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「その言葉が交わされるさなか、汝の戦士たちは恐怖に圧され、矢の雨を放つことをやめて立ち尽くした。もはや戦いを押し進めず、ただ戦場を見つめる観客となったのである。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear (bhaya) can overpower resolve and disrupt one’s role-based duty: warriors who should act become mere onlookers. Ethically, it points to the danger of letting inner agitation replace disciplined action in a crisis.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava fighters, shaken by what has been said, stop releasing arrows and stand watching the combat, indicating a collapse of momentum and confidence on that side.