Shloka 13
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
ततः सेनापतिरभूद् द्रोणो<स्त्रविदुषां वर: । प्रवीर: कौरवेन्द्रस्य काव्यो दैत्यपतेरिव,तदनन्तर अस्त्रवेत्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ आचार्य द्रोण कौरवपक्षके सेनापति बनाये गये। वे कौरवराजकी सेनाके प्रमुख वीर थे, मानो दैत्यराज बलिकी सेनाके प्रधान संरक्षक शुक्राचार्य हों
tataḥ senāpatir abhūd droṇo 'straviduṣāṃ varaḥ | pravīraḥ kauravendrasya kāvyo daityapater iva ||
Then Droṇa—foremost among those skilled in the science of weapons—was appointed commander of the army. He stood as the Kaurava king’s chief champion, like Kāvya (Śukrācārya), the preceptor and protector of the lord of the Daityas, standing at the head of his forces.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power in war is not only numerical; it depends on the appointment of the most competent and strategically wise leader. The comparison to Śukrācārya highlights how a single master of counsel and weapons-lore can become the decisive support of a ruler’s enterprise, raising ethical questions about how knowledge is used in service of a cause.
After a prior development in the conflict, Droṇa—renowned as the foremost knower of weaponry—is made the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava forces. The text likens his role to that of Kāvya (Śukrācārya) guiding and safeguarding the Daitya king (Bali), emphasizing Droṇa’s centrality as the Kauravas’ leading warrior and strategist.