Shloka 10
Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens
यं दृष्टवा कुरव: सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमा: । निवर्तिष्यन्ति संत्रस्ता: सिंहं क्षुद्रमगा यथा,'जैसे सिंहको देखते ही क्षुद्र मृम भयभीत होकर भाग उठते हैं, उसी प्रकार इन्हें देखकर दुर्योधन आदि समस्त कौरव त्रस्त होकर पीछे लौट जायूँगे
yaṁ dṛṣṭvā kuravaḥ sarve duryodhana-purogamāḥ | nivartiṣyanti saṁtrastāḥ siṁhaṁ kṣudra-mṛgā yathā ||
यं दृष्ट्वा कुरवः सर्वे दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः । निवर्तिष्यन्ति संत्रस्ताः सिंहं क्षुद्रमृगा यथा ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how arrogance and collective bravado can dissolve into fear when confronted by genuine strength; ethically, it suggests that confidence rooted in adharma is unstable and easily shaken.
Sañjaya describes the anticipated reaction of Duryodhana and the Kaurava host: upon seeing a particular formidable warrior, they will recoil and retreat, compared to small animals fleeing a lion.