Shloka 43
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
एको<पसृत्य चेदिभ्य: पाण्डवान् यः समाश्रित: । धृष्टकेतुं समायान्तं द्रोणं कस्तं न््यवारयत्,जिसने अकेले ही चेदिदेशसे आकर पाण्डव-पक्षका आश्रय लिया है, उस धृष्टकेतुको द्रोणके पास आनेसे किसने रोका?
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
eko 'pasṛtya cedibhyaḥ pāṇḍavān yaḥ samāśritaḥ |
dhṛṣṭaketuṁ samāyāntaṁ droṇaṁ kas taṁ nyavārayat ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Who was it that held back Dhṛṣṭaketu—he who, coming alone from the land of the Cedis and taking refuge with the Pāṇḍavas—from advancing toward Droṇa?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of chosen allegiance in war: Dhṛṣṭaketu, though from Cedi, deliberately takes refuge with the Pāṇḍavas and acts with solitary resolve. It also underscores that even great warriors can be checked by opposing valor and strategy, reminding readers that power in battle is relational, not absolute.
Vaiśampāyana poses a pointed question about the battlefield: Dhṛṣṭaketu, having come from the Cedi side and aligned himself with the Pāṇḍavas, advances toward Droṇa. The narration asks who managed to restrain or prevent Dhṛṣṭaketu from reaching Droṇa, setting up the identification of the resisting warrior(s) in the surrounding verses.