Shloka 26
Droṇavadha-saṃniveśaḥ — The Convergence Toward Droṇa’s Fall
Book 7, Chapter 164
तमापततन्तं वेगेन परिघं घोरदर्शनम् । द्विधा चिच्छेद समरे प्रहसन्निव कौरव:,समरांगणमें बड़े वेगसे आते हुए उस भयंकर परिघके कुरुवंशी सोमदत्तने हँसते हुए-से दो टुकड़े कर डाले
tam āpatatantaṁ vegena parighaṁ ghoradarśanam | dvidhā ciccheda samare prahasann iva kauravaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als jene furchtbare, schrecklich anzusehende Eisenkeule mit großer Wucht heranfuhr, spaltete der Kaurava Somadatta mitten im Kampf, gleichsam lächelnd, sie in zwei Teile.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness and presence of mind in crisis: fearsome threats lose power when met with disciplined skill and composure. At the same time, it implicitly warns how warfare can make even extreme violence appear routine or even ‘playful,’ raising ethical reflection on the cost of battle.
A terrifying iron club (parigha) is hurled or rushes in at great speed. In the midst of combat, the Kaurava warrior—identified in the Gita Press Hindi as Somadatta—cuts the incoming weapon into two, seemingly with a smile.