Shloka 14
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
त्वयि कर्णे कृपे द्रोणे मद्रराजेडथ सौबले । महत् कार्य समासक्तं प्रसीद द्विजसत्तम,द्विजश्रेष्ठ! तुमपर, कर्णपर तथा कृपाचार्य, द्रोणाचार्य, मद्रराज शल्य और शकुनिपर महान् कार्यभार रखा गया है; तुम प्रसन्न होओ
tvayi karṇe kṛpe droṇe madrarāje tathā saubale | mahat kāryaṁ samāsaktaṁ prasīda dvijasattama ||
قال دوريوذانا: «يا أفضلَ ذوي الولادتين! لقد وُضِع على عاتقك—وعلى عاتق كارنا، وكريپا، ودرونا، وملكِ مادرا (شاليا)، وسوبالا (شكوني)—عبءٌ عظيمٌ عاجل. فكن رحيماً وامضِ بعزمٍ تامّ.»
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in crisis, leaders assign collective responsibility to key agents and seek their wholehearted commitment. Ethically, it shows the tension between personal loyalty and the moral quality of the cause: competence and duty are invoked to sustain a war effort, even when dharma is disputed.
In the Drona Parva context, Duryodhana urges the principal Kaurava commanders—Karṇa, Kṛpa, Droṇa, Śalya, and Śakuni—stressing that a heavy task now rests on them. He appeals to their resolve and favor (“prasīda”), attempting to secure unified action in the ongoing battle.