Mahabharata 7.189.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 189, Shloka 22
विह्नलं तूर्णमुद्भ्रान्तं सभयं भारतातुरम्
vihvalaṁ tūrṇam udbhrāntaṁ sabhayaṁ bhāratāturam | tāv evānye samāsādya jagmur vaivasvatakṣayam ||
Disse Sañjaya: Ó Bhārata, exceto Droṇācārya e Arjuna, o restante do exército tornou-se de pronto aturdido, tomado de pânico, temeroso e aflito. Só aqueles dois eram refúgio e abrigo para os guerreiros de seus respectivos lados; contudo, os combatentes adversários, ao se aproximarem de qualquer um deles, eram lançados à morada de Yama—a própria Morte—tão esmagadora era a sua proeza.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary martial excellence can become both refuge and peril: great leaders steady their own side in crisis, yet for opponents their very presence can mean certain death. Ethically, it underscores the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare—courage and protection for one’s own, lethal consequence for the foe.
Sañjaya reports that the armies, overwhelmed by the intensity of battle, fall into panic and confusion. Only Droṇa and Arjuna remain as firm supports for their respective forces; however, enemy warriors who attempt to close with either of them are slain—figuratively ‘reaching Yama’s abode’.
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