Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.21.53 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 53
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
ततो राजानमासाद्य प्रहरन््तमभीतवत् । अविध्यन्नव्ि: क्षेमं स हतः प्रापतद् रथात्
tato rājānam āsādya praharan abhītavat | avidhyan nava-bhiḥ kṣemaṃ sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—তারপর নির্ভয়ে আঘাত করতে থাকা রাজা ক্ষেমের কাছে পৌঁছে দ্রোণ তাঁকে নয়টি শর দিয়ে বিদ্ধ করলেন। সেই আঘাতে আহত হয়ে ক্ষেম রথ থেকে নিচে পড়ে গেলেন।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethic of battlefield duty as portrayed in the epic: fearlessness and decisive action are praised in combat, yet even kings are vulnerable to the consequences of war. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring reminder that power and status do not shield one from mortality.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior closes in on King Kṣema while Kṣema is fighting boldly, pierces him with nine arrows, and Kṣema—struck down—falls from his chariot.
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