Shloka 52
गदां विनिहतां दृष्टवा पार्षतः शत्रुतापन: । द्रोणाय शक्ति चिक्षेप सर्वपारशवीं शुभाम्
sañjaya uvāca | gadāṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ śatrutāpanaḥ | droṇāya śaktiṃ cikṣepa sarvapārśavīṃ śubhām ||
Sanjaya said: Seeing that his mace had been rendered ineffective, Dhrishtadyumna—the son of Prishata, a tormentor of foes—hurled at Drona a splendid spear, forged wholly of iron. In the relentless ethics of battlefield duty, when one weapon fails, the warrior shifts to another, pressing the fight without hesitation against a formidable teacher-commander.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of steadfastness and adaptability: when a chosen means fails, a warrior committed to his duty promptly adopts another means. It also reflects the uncompromising nature of kṣatriya-dharma in war, where resolve and tactical flexibility are prized even against revered figures like a teacher-commander.
Dhrishtadyumna sees that his mace attack has been neutralized. He then switches weapons and hurls a splendid, all-iron spear (śakti) at Drona, as Sanjaya continues narrating the intense combat.