Sauptika Parva, Adhyaya 8 — Dhṛṣṭadyumna-vadha and the Camp’s Nocturnal Rout
तासां तु तेन शब्देन समीपे क्षत्रियर्षभा:
tāsāṁ tu tena śabdena samīpe kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
ਪਰ, ਹੇ ਖ਼ਸ਼ਤਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਉਸ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਨੇੜੇ ਆ ਗਏ।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how a single sound in a tense wartime setting triggers immediate movement and vigilance—an ethical reminder that in violence-driven contexts, fear and alertness spread quickly and shape behavior.
Sañjaya reports that, upon hearing a particular noise, the concerned group moved toward the source of the sound, drawing near to investigate or respond.