Shloka 18
अश्वमेधीयस्य हयस्य दक्षिणापश्चिमगमनम् — The Sacrificial Horse’s Southern and Western Circuit
सम्पूर्ण सेनाके मनुष्य, हाथी और घोड़े घबराकर इधर-उधर भटकने लगे। सारी सेना गिरती-पड़ती भागने लगी। उनके अधिकांश सिपाही युद्धमें मारे गये या नष्ट हो गये और वह बार-बार युद्धभूमिमें ही चक्कर काटने लगी ।।
n01bhyad5byanta v2brasya kecid agregraya-karma 47a 25 |
ripava 25 p01tyam01n01 vai ye saheyu 25 dhana f1jayam ||
全军的人、象、马尽皆惊惶，四散奔突；大军跌跌撞撞地溃逃。其兵多已战死或覆灭，残部又在战场上一次次回旋打转。于英勇的阿周那——成就最上功业者——面前，竟不见有敌能立；凡被击倒者，皆不能承受“掠财者”（檀那阇耶）的威势。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and psychological dimension of warfare: when a warrior of exceptional prowess advances with unwavering resolve, opponents lose cohesion and the capacity to resist. In epic ethics, such irresistible force is often framed as the fruition of disciplined skill and rightful purpose (k 63atriya-dharma), rather than mere aggression.
Vaibamp01yana describes Arjuna pressing forward so powerfully that no enemy remains visibly standing before him; those struck are being felled and cannot bear his onslaught. The scene conveys a rout: the opposing side collapses under Arjunabcbcs momentum.