Shloka 13
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system
त॑ द्रौणि: पञ्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत् । वरं वरममित्राणामारुजन्तमभीतवत्
taṁ drauṇiḥ pañcaviṁśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṁ samārpayat | varaṁ varam amitrāṇām ārujantam abhītavat ||
Sañjaya sprach: Aśvatthāmā, Droṇas Sohn, übergab ihn fünfundzwanzig geringeren Kämpfern, während jener—furchtlos—immer wieder die feindlichen Reihen durchbrach.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fearlessness and martial prowess can compel opponents to respond with numbers rather than equals, revealing the harsh ethics of battlefield necessity—where strategy often overrides ideals of fair combat.
Sañjaya reports that Aśvatthāmā assigns the targeted fighter to be confronted by twenty-five lesser warriors, because that fighter is repeatedly smashing through enemy lines without fear.