Shloka 19
यथा सिंहस्य नदतः स्वनं श्रुत्वेतरे मृगा: । त्रसेयुनिनिदं श्रुत्वा तथासीदत तद्धलम्,जैसे गर्जते हुए सिंहकी आवाज सुनकर दूसरे वन्य पशु भयभीत हो जाते हैं, उसी प्रकार उन दोनोंका शंखनाद सुनकर कौरवसेनाका उत्साह शिथिल पड़ गया--वह खिन्न-सी हो गयी
yathā siṁhasya nadataḥ svanaṁ śrutvetare mṛgāḥ | traseyur ninidaṁ śrutvā tathāsīdat tad balam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Seperti binatang-binatang lain di rimba menggigil apabila mendengar ngauman singa, demikianlah apabila mendengar deru itu, semangat bala Kaurava menjadi lemah dan keyakinan mereka merosot menjadi muram.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that inner strength and moral confidence manifest as psychological power: a single commanding signal can unsettle an opposing force. In dharmic literature, fear often arises from inner doubt, while steadiness comes from conviction and purpose.
As the armies prepare for Kurukṣetra, a powerful sound—understood in context as the Pandava side’s conch-blast—reverberates. Hearing it, the Kaurava host loses enthusiasm and becomes dispirited, likened to forest beasts trembling at a lion’s roar.