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Shloka 57

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

यथा मृगगणांस्त्रस्तान्‌ सिंहो द्रावयते दिश:

yathā mṛgagaṇāṁs trastān siṁho drāvayate diśaḥ

సంజయుడు పలికెను— “భయపడిన జింకల గుంపును సింహం అన్ని దిశలకూ తరిమివేయునట్లు, అట్లే ఆ మహావీరుడు భీతిగొన్న సేనలను చతుర్దిశలకూ చెదరగొట్టెను.”

यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
मृगगणान्herds of deer
मृगगणान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमृगगण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
त्रस्तान्frightened
त्रस्तान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootत्रस्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सिंहःa lion
सिंहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसिंह
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्रावयतेdrives away, puts to flight
द्रावयते:
TypeVerb
Rootद्रु (द्रावय- caus.)
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
दिशःto the directions (all around)
दिशः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
L
lion (siṁha)
H
herds of deer (mṛgagaṇa)
D
directions/quarters (diśaḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how fear spreads in conflict: when a force is overwhelmed by superior power, cohesion collapses and people scatter instinctively. Ethically, it underscores the responsibility of leaders and warriors to maintain steadiness and discipline rather than letting panic dictate action.

Sañjaya describes a battlefield moment where one dominant fighter (implied by context) causes opposing troops to flee in disorder, compared to a lion scattering frightened deer in every direction.