Shloka 10
Droṇotpattiḥ, Astralābhaḥ, Drupada-vairasya bījaṃ ca
The Birth of Droṇa, Acquisition of Weapons, and the Seed of Enmity with Drupada
चिरायमा्णां मां ज्ञात्वा ततः स पुरुषादक: । स्वयमेवागतो हन्तुमिमान् सर्वास्तवात्मजान्,मेरे लौटनेमें देर होती जान वह मनुष्यभक्षी राक्षस स्वयं ही आपके इन सब पुत्रोंको मार डालनेके लिये आया
cirāyamāṇāṁ māṁ jñātvā tataḥ sa puruṣādakaḥ | svayam evāgato hantum imān sarvāstava ātmajān ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Knowing that my return was delayed, that man-eating rākṣasa came of his own accord to kill all these sons of yours.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how negligence or unavoidable delay can expose dependents to danger, and it frames protection as a dharmic duty: predatory forces exploit moments when guardianship is absent.
The speaker reports that, noticing his delayed return, a man-eating rākṣasa independently comes to kill the listener’s sons, escalating the immediate peril and driving the next action in the episode.