Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
अनाथा नाथमिच्छन्तो मृगा: सिंहार्दिता इव
anāthā nātham icchanto mṛgāḥ siṁhārditā iva
พวกเขาไร้ที่พึ่ง ปรารถนาผู้คุ้มครอง—ดุจเนื้อทรายที่ถูกสิงโตขย้ำ
संजय उवाच
In crisis, a community without guidance becomes vulnerable like prey; the verse underscores the ethical need for responsible leadership and the human impulse to seek refuge when fear and disorder prevail.
Sanjaya describes warriors or groups in the battlefield context as shaken and defenseless, comparing them to deer wounded by a lion—conveying panic, disarray, and the urgent search for a protector or commander.