Shloka 42
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
महारथं समाख्यात॑ द्रोणायोद्यतमाहवे । त्यजन्तं तुमुले प्राणान् के शूराः समवारयन्,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?
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
mahārathaṃ samākhyātaṃ droṇāyodyatam āhave |
tyajantaṃ tumule prāṇān ke śūrāḥ samavārayan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Who were the heroes that held back that famed great chariot-warrior—Dhṛṣṭadyumna—when, in the tumult of battle, he was ready to stake his very life and rush against Droṇa in combat?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the warrior-ethic of deliberate self-risk for a chosen duty: Dṛṣṭadyumna is portrayed as willing to sacrifice life to confront a formidable teacher-general (Droṇa). At the same time, the question ‘who restrained him?’ highlights the counter-duty of comrades and commanders to regulate zeal so that courage remains disciplined rather than reckless.
Vaiśampāyana frames a battlefield moment as an inquiry: Dṛṣṭadyumna, a renowned mahāratha, is intent on engaging Droṇa amid the chaos of war, even at the cost of his life. The narration turns to identify the warriors who checked or held him back from immediately reaching Droṇa.