Shloka 41
युक्त धनंजयहिते समानर्थार्थमुत्थितम् । यमवैश्रवणादित्यमहेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्,पांचालोंमें उत्तम, श्रेष्ठ कुल एवं ख्यातिके प्रेमी, सदा सत्कर्म करनेवाले, संग्राममें उत्तम आत्मबलका परिचय देनेवाले, अर्जुनके हितसाधनमें तत्पर, मेरा अनर्थ करनेके लिये उद्यत रहनेवाले, यमराज, कुबेर, सूर्य, इन्द्र और वरुणके समान तेजस्वी, विख्यात महारथी तथा भयंकर युद्धमें अपने प्राणोंको निछावर करके द्रोणाचार्यसे भिड़नेके लिये सदा तैयार रहनेवाले वीर धृष्टद्युम्नको किन शूरवीरोंने रोका?
yuktaṃ dhanañjaya-hite samānārthārtham utthitam | yama-vaiśravaṇāditya-mahendrā-varuṇopamam | pāñcāleṣv uttamaṃ śreṣṭha-kulaṃ ca khyāti-premaṇam | sadā satkarma-kṛt vīraṃ saṅgrāme cottamātma-balam | arjunasya hita-sādhane tatparaṃ mama cānartha-kṛte udyatam | yaśasvinaṃ mahārathaṃ ghora-yuddhe prāṇān nivedya droṇācāryaṃ prati yoddhuṃ sadā samudyatam | vīraṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ke śūrā avārayann iti ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Who were the heroic warriors that checked the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna—ever intent on Arjuna’s welfare, risen with a single-minded purpose, radiant like Yama, Kubera, the Sun, Indra, and Varuṇa; foremost among the Pāñcālas, a lover of noble lineage and fame, constant in righteous deeds, displaying supreme inner strength in battle; ever ready to stake his life in that dreadful war and confront Droṇācārya—who held him back?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial excellence within ethical ideals: steadfast purpose, commitment to righteous conduct (satkarma), loyalty to one’s cause (Arjuna’s welfare), and willingness to risk life for duty—while also highlighting how fame and noble lineage are culturally linked to responsibility in war.
The narrator describes Dhṛṣṭadyumna as a formidable Pāñcāla champion, blazing like major deities and determined to engage Droṇa in the fierce battle. The verse then asks which Kaurava-side heroes managed to restrain or stop his advance toward Droṇa.