Shloka 6
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
उपप्लवन्ति वित्रस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस्तथा । सादिनश्चाश्वपृछे भ्यो भूमौ चैव पदातय:,उस समय अत्यन्त भयभीत होकर रथी सैनिक रथोंसे कूदकर और घुड़सवार घोड़ोंकी पीठसे उछलकर जान लेकर भाग चले और पैदल योद्धा तो भूमिपर थे ही; उन्होंने भी (डरके मारे) इधर-उधरकी राह ली
upaplavanti vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tathā | sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau caiva padātayaḥ ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—اُس وقت دہشت زدہ رتھی اپنے رتھوں سے کود پڑے، سوار گھوڑوں کی پیٹھ سے جھپٹ کر اتر آئے، اور پیادے بھی زمین پر ادھر اُدھر بکھر گئے—ہر ایک جان بچانے کو بھاگ نکلا۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of martial discipline: when fear overwhelms, even trained warriors abandon their stations. Ethically, it contrasts outward status (chariot-warrior, horseman, infantry) with the inner quality of steadiness (dhairya), implying that true strength is composure under threat.
A sudden surge of terror spreads through the troops. Chariot-fighters jump down from their chariots, cavalrymen spring off their horses, and the infantry scatter on foot—an image of a force breaking formation and fleeing in confusion.