Shloka 4
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
ते वध्यमाना भीष्मेण पठ्चाला: सोमकै: सह । भीष्ममेवाभ्ययुस्तूर्ण त्यक्त्वा मृत्युकृतं भयम्,भीष्मके द्वारा घायल किये जाते हुए वे सोमक (सूृंजय) और पांचाल भी मृत्युका भय छोड़कर तुरंत भीष्मपर ही टूट पड़े
te vadhyamānā bhīṣmeṇa pāñcālāḥ somakaiḥ saha | bhīṣmam evābhyayus tūrṇaṁ tyaktvā mṛtyukṛtaṁ bhayam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Walaupun sedang ditewaskan oleh Bhīṣma, kaum Pāñcāla bersama Somaka menyingkirkan ketakutan akan maut, lalu dengan segera menyerbu terus ke arah Bhīṣma sendiri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even under severe threat, the warriors choose decisive action over paralysis: they abandon death-born fear and confront the principal source of danger. The verse reflects a kṣatriya ideal—steadfast courage and strategic focus on the key opponent—while also showing the moral weight of accepting personal risk for one’s side.
As Bhīṣma cuts down the Pāñcālas and Somakas, they do not retreat. Instead, they quickly rally and charge directly at Bhīṣma, treating him as the central target whose presence is turning the battle.