Mahabharata 7.13.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 5
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
यथा तन्न भवेत् सत्यं तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । सान्तर हि प्रतिज्ञातं द्रोणेनामित्रकर्षिणा
sañjaya uvāca | yathā tan na bhavet satyaṃ tathā nītir vidhīyatām | sāntaraṃ hi pratijñātaṃ droṇenāmitrakarṣiṇā | āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvājacikīrṣitam |
قال سنجيا: «أيها الملك، دبّر سياسةً لا تدع ذلك يتحقق. فإنّ درونا، قاهرَ الأعداء، قد نذر حقًّا نذرًا مقرونًا بتحفّظٍ خفيّ؛ وقد عُرف سريعًا، على يد عملاء موثوقين، ما ينويه ابن بهارادفاجا.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti (prudent statecraft) in response to an opponent’s vow: when an adversary’s intention is known—especially a pledge made with a strategic ‘reservation’—one should craft counter-measures that prevent its fulfillment, balancing foresight, intelligence-gathering, and ethical responsibility in war.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Drona has taken a qualified vow and that Drona’s intended action has been quickly learned through trusted informants; therefore, counsel is sought on how to ensure that Drona’s plan does not succeed.
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