Mahabharata 9.17.34 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 17, Shloka 34
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
तेनाथ शब्देन विभीषणेन तथाभितप्तं बलमप्रधृष्यम् कांदिग्भूतं रुधिरेणो क्षिताडूं विसंज्ञकल्पं च तदा विषण्णम्
tenātha śabdena vibhīṣaṇena tathābhitaptaṃ balam apradhṛṣyam | kāndigbhūtaṃ rudhireṇokṣitāṅgaṃ visaṃjñakalpaṃ ca tadā viṣaṇṇam ||
ആ ഭീകരനാദത്തിൽ ദഹിച്ചുപോയതുപോലെ അപ്രധൃഷ്യമെന്നു തോന്നിയ കൗരവസേന ആശയക്കുഴപ്പത്തിലായി. രക്തത്തിൽ മുക്കപ്പെട്ട ശരീരങ്ങളോടെ ദിക്കുതെറ്റി, ബോധം നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടവരെപ്പോലെ വിഷണ്ണരായി ദിശയറിയാതെ ഓടിത്തുടങ്ങി.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in war, inner stability and morale are decisive: even a powerful force can crumble when fear overwhelms discernment, leading to confusion, flight, and ethical disintegration amid bloodshed.
Sañjaya describes a terrifying sound on the battlefield that shocks the (otherwise formidable) host into panic; bloodied and disoriented, the troops become almost senseless and flee aimlessly in despair.
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