Shloka 6
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
उपप्लवन्ति वित्रस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस्तथा । सादिनश्चाश्वपृछे भ्यो भूमौ चैव पदातय:,उस समय अत्यन्त भयभीत होकर रथी सैनिक रथोंसे कूदकर और घुड़सवार घोड़ोंकी पीठसे उछलकर जान लेकर भाग चले और पैदल योद्धा तो भूमिपर थे ही; उन्होंने भी (डरके मारे) इधर-उधरकी राह ली
upaplavanti vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tathā | sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau caiva padātayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dalam ketakutan, para pahlawan kereta perang melompat turun dari kereta; para penunggang kuda melompat dari belakang kuda; dan para askar berjalan kaki, yang memang sudah di tanah, turut berselerak panik—masing-masing lari menyelamatkan nyawa. Adegan ini menegaskan bahawa apabila keyakinan dan perlindungan runtuh, ketakutan mampu melarutkan tertib dan keteguhan perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of martial discipline: when fear overwhelms, even trained warriors abandon their stations. Ethically, it contrasts outward status (chariot-warrior, horseman, infantry) with the inner quality of steadiness (dhairya), implying that true strength is composure under threat.
A sudden surge of terror spreads through the troops. Chariot-fighters jump down from their chariots, cavalrymen spring off their horses, and the infantry scatter on foot—an image of a force breaking formation and fleeing in confusion.