Shloka 88
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
मार्गान् बहून् विचरता धावता च ततस्ततः । मुहुरुत्पतता चैव सम्मोह: समपद्यत
sañjaya uvāca | mārgān bahūn vicaratā dhāvatā ca tatastataḥ | muhur utpatatā caiva sammohaḥ samapadyata, rājan |
राजन्, स मार्गान् बहून् विचरन् ततस्ततः धावन् मुहुरुत्पतन् च; तेन रणाङ्गणे सम्मोहः समपद्यत। तस्य गजेन्द्रसदृशेन वेगेन भीमसेनभयात् सैन्यानि वाहनानि च सर्वशः प्राकम्पन्त, सर्वत्र च व्यामोहः प्रससार।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion (sammoha) can overtake an army when confronted with overwhelming force and unpredictable movement; in war, mental steadiness is as decisive as weapons.
Sanjaya describes Bhimasena moving rapidly across many routes on the battlefield—running, roaming, and repeatedly leaping—so that the opposing troops and their mounts begin to tremble and a general panic spreads.