Shloka 56
भीष्मस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति उपालम्भः
Bhīṣma’s Reproof to Duryodhana
सर्वतः समचेष्टन्त सिंहभीता गजा इव । महाराज! आपके सभी सैनिक सब ओरसे दीन-चित्त हो सिंहसे डरे हुए हाथियोंकी भाँति भयपूर्ण चेष्टाएँ करने लगे
sarvataḥ samaceṣṭanta siṁhabhītā gajā iva |
Sañjaya disse: «Ó grande rei, teus soldados, por todos os lados, começaram a mover-se em pânico—como elefantes assustados por um leão—e sua coragem se abatia à medida que o medo se espalhava pelas fileiras.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly fear can collapse collective resolve in war: when confidence breaks, even strong forces behave like frightened animals. Ethically, it implies the importance of steadiness, leadership, and inner courage amid crisis.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the king’s troops have become demoralized and are moving about in fearful confusion, compared to elephants panicking at the presence of a lion.