Shloka 23
Śaineya–Bhūriśravas: Genealogy, Svayaṃvara Contest, and the Maheśvara Boon
द्रोणो5पि समरे राजन् माधवस्य महद् धनु: । अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद रथशक्त्या च सारथिम्,नरेश्वर! तब समरभूमिमें द्रोणाचार्यने भी सात्यकिके विशाल धनुषको अर्द्धचन्द्राकार बाणसे काट दिया तथा रथशक्तिका प्रहार करके सारथिको भी गहरी चोट पहुँचायी
sañjaya uvāca |
droṇo 'pi samare rājan mādhavasya mahad dhanuḥ |
ardhacandreṇa ciccheda rathaśaktyā ca sārathim, nareśvara |
قال سنجيا: أيها الملك، وفي خِضَمّ المعركة قطع درونا أيضًا قوس ماذافا (ساتيكي) العظيم بسهمٍ ذي نصلٍ هلالي؛ ثمّ برمحٍ مقذوفٍ من عربته (رثا-شَكتي) أصاب السائق كذلك فألحق به جرحًا بالغًا. ويُبرز المشهد عنف الحرب الذي لا يلين، حيث يوظّف حتى المعلّم الموقَّر براعةً قاتلة بلا توقّف.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the dharma of war, mastery and resolve can override personal reverence: even a venerable teacher like Droṇa acts with uncompromising effectiveness. It invites reflection on the ethical tension between duty (kṣatriya-dharma) and the human cost of relentless combat.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Droṇa, fighting on the battlefield, severs Mādhava’s great bow with a crescent-headed arrow and then strikes the charioteer with a chariot-spear, seriously wounding him.