Shloka 17
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 47 — Abhimanyu’s rapid exchanges, counsel to disable his chariot-system
तस्मिन् द्रोणो बाणशतं पुत्रगृद्धी न्यपातयत् | अश्वत्थामा तथाष्टौ च परीप्सन् पितरं रणे,तब अपने पुत्रके प्रति स्नेह रखनेवाले द्रोणाचार्यने अभिमन्युको सौ बाण मारे। साथ ही अश्वत्थामाने भी अपने पिताकी रक्षा करते हुए रणक्षेत्रमें उसपर आठ बाण चलाये
tasmin droṇo bāṇaśataṃ putragṛddhī nyapātayat | aśvatthāmā tathāṣṭau ca parīpsan pitaraṃ raṇe |
Sañjaya sprach: In diesem Augenblick überschüttete Droṇa, von heftiger Liebe zu seinem Sohn getrieben, Abhimanyu mit hundert Pfeilen. Auch Aśvatthāmā, der seinen Vater im Kampf schützen wollte, traf ihn mit acht Pfeilen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension in war: personal attachment (Droṇa’s love for his son) and filial duty (Aśvatthāmā’s protection of his father) can strongly motivate action, yet in battle these motives manifest through violence. It invites reflection on how dharma is tested when affection and duty operate within destructive circumstances.
During the fighting, Droṇa shoots Abhimanyu with a volley of one hundred arrows, motivated by concern connected to his son. Aśvatthāmā, intent on safeguarding Droṇa, also shoots Abhimanyu with eight arrows on the battlefield.