Shloka 44
Śaineya’s Breakthrough and Reunion with Arjuna (शैनेयस्य समागमः)
द्रोणो हि बलवान श्रेष्ठ: कृतास्त्रो युद्धदुर्मद: । पज्चालास्ते महेष्वासं प्रत्यविध्यन् कथं रणे
droṇo hi balavān śreṣṭhaḥ kṛtāstro yuddha-durmadaḥ | pāñcālāste maheṣvāsaṃ pratyavidhyan kathaṃ raṇe ||
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—দ্ৰোণ নিশ্চয় বলবান, শ্ৰেষ্ঠ, অস্ত্ৰবিদ্যাত সম্পূৰ্ণ নিপুণ আৰু যুদ্ধমদে উন্মত্ত; তেন্তে ৰণত পাঞ্চালসকলে সেই মহাধনুৰ্ধৰক কেনেকৈ প্ৰতিঘাত কৰিলে?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between reputation and reality in war: even a famed, fully trained warrior can be challenged when opponents act with resolve and coordination. Ethically, it invites reflection on how martial prowess and battle-fury (yuddha-durmada) can be met—and sometimes checked—by determined resistance.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa as exceptionally powerful and battle-hardened, then poses a pointed question: despite Droṇa’s superiority, by what means did the Pāñcāla warriors manage to counterstrike and wound/strike him in the thick of battle?