Shloka 2
भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः
Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset
द्रोणं कृपं विकर्ण च महेष्वासं महाबलम् । राज्ञश्नान्यान् रणे शूरान् बहूनाच्च्छद् धनंजय:
sañjaya uvāca | droṇaṃ kṛpaṃ vikarṇaṃ ca maheṣvāsaṃ mahābalam | rājñaś cānyān raṇe śūrān bahūn ācchād dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: On that battlefield, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) showered his arrows upon Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Vikarṇa—mighty warriors and great archers—and upon many other valiant kings as well, afflicting them in combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic strain inherent in righteous war: even venerable figures like one’s teacher (Droṇa) and respected elders (Kṛpa) may be opposed when one is bound to kṣatriya-duty and the chosen side in a just cause; the battlefield compels action despite personal reverence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, in the thick of combat, overwhelms and wounds with arrows prominent Kaurava-side warriors—Droṇa, Kṛpa, Vikarṇa—and many other heroic kings, indicating Arjuna’s dominance in that phase of the battle.