Shloka 22
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
तस्मिंस्तु पतिते भूमौ गतसत्त्वे तु सारथौ । रथ: प्रदुद्राव दिश: समुद्भ्रान्नहयस्तत:
tasmiṁstu patite bhūmau gatasattve tu sārathau | rathaḥ pradudrāva diśaḥ samudbhrāntahayastataḥ ||
ಸಾರಥಿಯು ಪ್ರಾಣವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದ ತಕ್ಷಣ, ಆ ರಥದ ಕುದುರೆಗಳು ಗಾಬರಿಗೊಂಡು, ರಥವು ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಿಗೂ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಓಡಾಡಿತು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical importance of guidance and steadiness: when the one responsible for control and direction (the charioteer) is lost, dependent forces (the horses and chariot) fall into chaos, illustrating how leadership failure in war magnifies harm.
A charioteer has fallen lifeless onto the ground; immediately the horses become frightened and disoriented, causing the chariot to race uncontrollably in every direction.