Shloka 286
प्राद्रवन्त रणे भीता: सिंहत्रस्ता मृगा इव । महारथी सूतपुत्रने पैने बाणोंसे उन सबको घायल कर दिया। प्रजानाथ! समरमें मारे जाते हुए चेदि और मत्स्य देशके वीर सिंहसे डरे हुए मृगोंके समान रणभूमिमें कर्णसे भयभीत हो भागने लगे
prādravanta raṇe bhītāḥ siṁhatrastā mṛgā iva | mahārathī sūtaputreṇa tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ sarve te viddhāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: Sa takot sa labanan, sila’y nagsitakas na parang mga usang nayanig sa harap ng leon. Ang maharathi na si Karna, anak ng isang sūta (tagapagmaneho ng karwaheng pandigma), ay tumama sa kanilang lahat ng matutulis na palaso at sila’y nasugatan. Kaya ang mga bayani ng Cedi at Matsya—habang nalalagas sa siksik na sagupaan—ay nanghina ang loob, at sa pangamba kay Karna ay nagkawatak-watak at lumayo sa larangan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can dissolve courage and duty in war: when resolve breaks, even seasoned warriors may abandon the field. It also portrays the ethical tension of kṣātra-dharma—steadfastness in battle—against the human impulse to flee when overwhelmed.
As Karṇa attacks with sharp arrows, the Cedi and Matsya fighters are wounded and begin to retreat in panic. Sañjaya describes their flight through a vivid simile: deer scattering in fear of a lion.