Shloka 683
वित्रेसु: पाण्डवभयादू रजोध्यस्तास्तदा भूृशम् । शल्यके भाईको मारा गया देख धूलिधूसरित हुए आपके सारे सैनिक पाण्डुपुत्रके भयसे जीवनकी आशा छोड़कर अत्यन्त त्रस्त हो गये
vitrēsuḥ pāṇḍava-bhayād rajo-dhyastās tadā bhṛśam |
सञ्जय उवाच—पाण्डवभयात् ते वित्रेसुः; रजोध्वस्ताः तदा भूयः, जीविताशां परित्यज्य अत्यन्तं त्रस्ताः समभवन्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and loss of morale can collapse an army more decisively than weapons. In the ethical frame of the epic, inner steadiness (dhairya) is crucial for kṣatriya conduct; when courage fails, even a powerful force becomes ineffective.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops, overwhelmed by fear of the Pāṇḍavas, are thrown into confusion—dust-covered, shaken, and despairing of survival—signaling a turning point in the fighting.