Shloka 25
Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies
धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा: सर्वे समुद्विविजिरे मुहुः । धृष्टद्युम्न आदि सूंजयवंशी उन्हें देखकर बारंबार उद्विग्न हो उठते थे। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे मुँह बाये हुए विशाल सिंहको देखकर क्षुद्र मृग भयसे व्याकुल हो उठते हैं || २४ ई ।।
dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāḥ sarve samudvivijire muhuḥ |
ധൃഷ്ടദ്യുമ്നാദികൾ എല്ലാവരും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും വ്യാകുലരായി.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and practical reality that in warfare, inner steadiness is as decisive as weapons: repeated fear and agitation can undermine even a large force, while a formidable leader’s presence can dominate the opponent’s mind.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the troops facing Dhṛṣṭadyumna are repeatedly unsettled on seeing him, using a vivid simile—small deer panicking before a great lion—to convey the imbalance of confidence on the battlefield.