Shloka 29
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
तेन विद्राव्यमाणास्ते पाण्डवा: सर्वतो दिशम् । त्रातारं नाभ्यगच्छन्त: स्वेष्वनीकेषु भारत,भारत! भगदत्तके द्वारा खदेड़े हुए पाण्डवसैनिक सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें भागते हुए अपनी सेनाओंमें भी कहीं कोई रक्षक नहीं पाते थे
tena vidrāvyamāṇās te pāṇḍavāḥ sarvato diśam | trātāraṃ nābhyagacchantaḥ sveṣv anīkeṣu bhārata ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Dahil sa kanyang pagtaboy, nagkawatak-watak at nagsitakbuhan sa lahat ng dako ang mga mandirigma ng Pāṇḍava; at kahit sa loob ng sarili nilang mga hanay sa digmaan, O Bhārata, wala silang matagpuang tagapagtanggol na makapagpapanumbalik ng kanilang loob at kaayusan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic: when cohesion and dependable protection (trātṛ) collapse, even a strong force can dissolve into panic. It implicitly stresses the dharmic importance of steadfast leadership and mutual protection within one’s own ranks.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava side is being driven back; their fighters flee in all directions and, even within their own formations, cannot find anyone who can protect or steady them.