Shloka 4
Bhīṣma’s Appraisal of Kaurava-Aligned Mahārathas
Warrior Roster and Motivations
तस्यास्त्वग्रे महेष्वास: पाज्चाल्यो युद्धदुर्मदः । द्रोणप्रेप्सुरनीकानि धृष्टद्युम्नो व्यकर्षत,उसके आगे-आगे रणदुर्मद पांचालराजकुमार महाथनुर्धर धृष्टद्युम्न चल रहे थे, जो सदा आचार्य द्रोणसे युद्ध करनेकी इच्छा रखते थे। वे सारी सेनाको अपने पीछे खींचे लिये जाते थे
sañjaya uvāca |
tasyāstvagre maheṣvāsaḥ pāñcālyo yuddhadurmadaḥ |
droṇaprepsur anīkāni dhṛṣṭadyumno vyakarṣata ||
Sañjaya sprach: An der Spitze jenes Heeres zog Dhṛṣṭadyumna, der Prinz von Pāñcāla, ein großer Bogenschütze, trunken vom Kampfesrausch. Stets darauf bedacht, Droṇa im Gefecht zu begegnen, zog er die Schlachtordnungen hinter sich her, als risse er das ganze Heer dem Zusammenstoß entgegen, den er suchte.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal resolve and a fixed objective can shape collective action in war: a commander’s single-minded intent (here, Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s determination to confront Droṇa) can pull entire formations forward. Ethically, it also points to the tension between kṣatriya-duty (leading from the front) and the dangers of battle-pride (yuddha-durmada), where zeal can harden into vengeance.
Sañjaya describes the marching order of the Pāṇḍava-aligned forces: Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcāla prince and a renowned archer, advances at the head. Eager to fight Droṇa, he leads so forcefully that the army divisions follow as though drawn behind him.