Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
यं दृष्टवा कुरव: सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमा: । निवर्तिष्यन्ति संत्रस्ता: सिंहं क्षुद्रमगा यथा
yaṁ dṛṣṭvā kuravaḥ sarve duryodhana-purogamāḥ | nivartiṣyanti saṁtrastāḥ siṁhaṁ kṣudra-mṛgā yathā ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Apabila melihat dia, semua kaum Kuru—dipimpin oleh Duryodhana—akan berpaling undur dalam ketakutan, sebagaimana binatang-binatang kecil lari bertempiaran apabila terlihat singa.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how arrogance and collective bravado can dissolve into fear when confronted by genuine strength; ethically, it suggests that confidence rooted in adharma is unstable and easily shaken.
Sañjaya describes the anticipated reaction of Duryodhana and the Kaurava host: upon seeing a particular formidable warrior, they will recoil and retreat, compared to small animals fleeing a lion.