Shloka 50
पाषाणयोधिभिननू्नं युयुधान: समागत: । तथा हि रथिन: सर्वे ह्वियन्ते विद्रुतैर्हयै:
sañjaya uvāca |
pāṣāṇayodhibhir nūnaṃ yuyudhānaḥ samāgataḥ |
tathā hi rathinaḥ sarve hriyante vidrutair hayaiḥ ||
Санджая сказал: «Верно, Ююдхана сошёлся в ближнем бою с воинами, что сражаются каменным оружием; потому-то кони, обезумев от страха, уносят всех колесничих прочь с поля битвы.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the visible effects of panic in war—runaway horses dragging chariots—allow a discerning observer to infer the hidden cause: a fierce clash with a formidable opponent. It also underscores the ethical weight of steadfastness in a kṣatriya context, where one warrior’s engagement can decisively shape the field.
Sañjaya reports that Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki) has engaged the ‘stone-fighters’ in close combat. As evidence, he notes that frightened, fleeing horses are pulling chariots and their riders away from the fighting area, indicating sudden disruption and pressure on the chariot ranks.