Shloka 39
द्रोणस्तु समरे क्रुद्धः पुत्रस्य प्रियकृत् तव । व्यधमत् सर्वपज्चालांस्तूलराशिमिवानल:,आपके पुत्रका प्रिय करनेवाले द्रोणाचार्य भी युद्धमें कुपित होकर समस्त पांचालोंका विनाश करने लगे, मानो आग रूईके ढेरको जला रही हो
droṇas tu samare kruddhaḥ putrasya priyakṛt tava | vyadhamat sarvapañcālāṁs tūlarāśim ivānalaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Drona, enraged in the thick of battle and intent on doing what was dear to your son, began to crush the entire host of the Pañcālas—like fire consuming a heap of cotton.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical warning: when anger (krodha) combines with personal attachment and the urge to please a favored person, even a disciplined warrior’s power can become indiscriminate and disproportionate, leading to widespread harm.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa, furious on the battlefield and acting to satisfy what was dear to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana), is devastating the Pañcāla forces, compared to fire rapidly consuming a pile of cotton.