Shloka 139
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
उल्कासहसै श्व सुसम्प्रदीप्तै- विभ्राजमानैश्न तथा प्रदीपै: । किरीटिवित्रासितसर्वयोधा चक्रे निवेशं ध्वजिनी कुरूणाम्
sañjaya uvāca |
ulkāsahasraiś ca susampradīptaiḥ vibhrajyamānaiś ca tathā pradīpaiḥ |
kirīṭī-vitrāsita-sarva-yodhā cakre niveśaṃ dhvajinī kurūṇām, bhārata ||
三阇耶说道：“在千支火炬熊熊燃烧、明灯辉耀之下，俱卢大军于夜间安营，哦婆罗多。诸将士尽被恐惧攫住，因为戴冠者（Kirīṭin，阿周那）已令他们心生战栗。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral-psychological truth in warfare: fear can spread through an entire force when confronted by exceptional valor. Such fear influences collective action—here, the Kuru army’s decision to settle into camp under blazing lights—showing that inner states (courage or terror) can be as decisive as weapons.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, amid the glow of thousands of torches and lamps, the Kuru host withdrew to its night encampment. The warriors are described as being under Arjuna’s terror (Kirīṭin), indicating shaken morale at the close of the day’s fighting.