Shloka 48
ताञउछराउ्छरघातेन चिच्छेद स महारथ: । द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्राय प्राहिणोत् पडच सायकान्,तदनन्तर महारथी द्रोणने अपने बाणोंके आघातसे धृष्टद्युम्नके सारे बाणोंको काट दिया और टद्रुपदपुत्रपर पाँच बाण चलाये
tāñ śaraugha-ghātena ciccheda sa mahārathaḥ | droṇo drupada-putrāya prāhiṇot pañca sāyakān |
Sañjaya said: With a dense volley of arrows, that great chariot-warrior cut down all of Dṛṣṭadyumna’s shafts. Then Droṇa, turning his aim upon Drupada’s son, dispatched five keen arrows—an image of disciplined martial mastery in the midst of a relentless and morally fraught war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds disciplined skill and strategic focus in warfare: Droṇa neutralizes the opponent’s attack before counterattacking. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension—excellence in kṣatriya conduct (martial mastery) unfolding within a tragic conflict where right action is complex and contested.
In the battle, Droṇa intercepts and cuts down Dṛṣṭadyumna’s incoming arrows with his own concentrated volley, then immediately shoots five arrows at Dṛṣṭadyumna (Drupada’s son), continuing the duel’s escalation.