Shloka 316
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
त्रिधा चिच्छेद समरे पाञ्चाल्यस्य तु कार्मुकम् भरतनन्दन! एक ओरसे धृष्टद्युम्नने द्रोणाचार्यपर आक्रमण किया। तब द्रोणने अत्यन्त क्रुद्ध होकर युद्धमें दूसरोंके मारनेके साधनभूत धृष्टद्युम्नके सुदृढ़ धनुषके तीन टुकड़े कर डाले
tridhā ciccheda samare pāñcālyasya tu kārmukam | bharatanandana! ekorase dhṛṣṭadyumnena droṇācārye para ākramaṇaṃ kṛtam | tataḥ droṇaḥ atyantaṃ kruddho bhūtvā yuddhe anyeṣāṃ māraṇasādhanabhūtasya dhṛṣṭadyumnasya sudṛḍhaṃ dhanuḥ tridhā kṛtvā ciccheda |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, O joy of the Bharatas, Droṇa cut the Pāñcāla prince’s bow into three pieces. For Dṛṣṭadyumna had launched a direct assault upon Droṇācārya; and Droṇa, inflamed with anger, shattered Dṛṣṭadyumna’s strong bow—an instrument by which many others might be slain—thereby checking his attack and asserting mastery in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode highlights battlefield ethics and strategy: rather than immediately seeking a kill, a warrior may neutralize a threat by disabling the opponent’s weapon. It also shows how anger can intensify combat, yet the action taken is tactically focused—removing the means of harm.
Dṛṣṭadyumna attacks Droṇa directly. Droṇa, becoming extremely angry, responds by cutting Dṛṣṭadyumna’s strong bow into three pieces, effectively disarming him and halting the momentum of his assault.