Mahabharata 7.103.24 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 103, Shloka 24

भीमसेन-द्रोण-संग्रामः

Bhīmasena and Droṇa: Containment, Advance, and Recognition

Devanagari script

अस्त्रौघान्महतो मुक्तौ द्रोणहार्दिक्यरक्षितात्‌ । रोचमानावदृश्येतामिन्द्राग्न्यो: सदृशौ रणे

Transliteration

astraughān mahato muktau droṇahārdikyarakṣitāt | rocamānāv adṛśyetām indrāgnyoḥ sadṛśau raṇe ||

Translation

قال سنجيا: «وقد أُطلِقا من ذلك الوابل العظيم من الأسلحة، وتحت حماية درونا وهارديكيا (كريتافارمان)، شوهد المحاربان في ساحة القتال متلألئين ببريق باهر—كإندرا وأغني نفسيهما.»

Word by Word

• अस्त्रौघात्: from the torrent/mass of weapons
• अस्त्रौघात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्रौघ (अस्त्र + ओघ)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• महतः: great, huge (from/of the great)
• महतः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative/Genitive, Singular

• मुक्तौ: released, freed (the two)
• मुक्तौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (√मुच्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• द्रोणहार्दिक्यरक्षितात्: from (that which was) protected by Droṇa and Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)
• द्रोणहार्दिक्यरक्षितात्: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रोणहार्दिक्यरक्षित (द्रोण + हार्दिक्य + रक्षित)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• रोचमानौ: shining, radiant (the two)
• रोचमानौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोचमान (√रुच्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• अदृश्येताम्: were seen, appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Dual, Ātmanepada

• इन्द्राग्न्योः: of Indra and Agni
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्राग्नि (इन्द्र + अग्नि)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• सदृशौ: similar, like
• सदृशौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)
• Indra
• Agni
• astra (weapons/missiles)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of protection and solidarity in crisis: even amid a devastating onslaught, disciplined support from strong allies enables warriors to recover and reassert their presence. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s war setting where duty and loyalty operate within the harsh realities of combat.

What is happening in the narrative?

A pair of warriors (referred to in the dual) emerge after escaping a massive shower of weapons. With Droṇa and Kṛtavarman guarding them, they appear radiant on the battlefield, compared to the gods Indra and Agni.