Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 77
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
अपि चैषां भयं तीव्र पार्थेभ्यो5 भूत् सुदारुणम् । प्रेक्षमाणास्तदान्योन्यमाधावन्नगरं प्रति,उन्हें कुन्तीके पुत्रोंसे दारुण एवं तीव्र भय प्राप्त हुआ था। वे एक-दूसरेकी ओर देखते हुए नगरकी ओर भागने लगे
api caiṣāṃ bhayaṃ tīvraṃ pārthebhyo 'bhūt sudāruṇam | prekṣamāṇās tadānyonyam ādhāvann agaraṃ prati ||
三阇耶说道：对般度之子（帕尔塔）的凶猛而可怖的惧意攫住了他们。于是他们彼此相顾，便急急奔向城中。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war-narrative terms, the verse highlights how fear can rapidly dissolve collective courage: when confidence collapses, people seek safety by following the movement of others, even without clear strategy. Ethically, it contrasts the ideal of steadfast kṣatriya resolve with the human tendency to panic under overwhelming threat.
Sañjaya reports that a group (implicitly warriors on the Kaurava side) becomes intensely frightened of the Pārthas. They look at each other in alarm and then run toward the city, indicating a retreat or rout in the midst of the conflict.