Shloka 55
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
करवाणि च ते काम ब्रूहि त्वमभिकड्क्षितम् । एवंगते महाराज युद्धादन्यत् किमिच्छसि
karavāṇi ca te kāma brūhi tvam abhikāṅkṣitam | evaṃgate mahārāja yuddhād anyat kim icchasi ||
Droṇa sprach: „Ich werde deinen Wunsch erfüllen—sage mir, wonach du wahrhaft verlangst. Da die Dinge nun so weit gekommen sind, o großer König, kann ich nicht in deinem Namen kämpfen; lass die Schlacht beiseite und sag, was du sonst begehrst.“
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint and clarity of intention: even a powerful warrior-teacher like Droṇa frames action in terms of what is permissible in the given circumstances, offering to fulfill a request but explicitly limiting it by refusing to fight, implying that duty and moral boundaries govern service.
Droṇa addresses a king and invites him to state his desired request. However, he declares that, given the present situation, he cannot engage in battle on the king’s behalf, and therefore asks what other non-martial wish the king wants fulfilled.