Shloka 37
भीमसेन-द्रोण-संग्रामः
Bhīmasena and Droṇa: Containment, Advance, and Recognition
द्रोणेनाबद्धकवचो राजा दुर्योधनस्तत: । ययावेकरथेनाजौ हयसंस्कारवित् प्रभो,प्रभो! घोड़ोंके संस्कारको जाननेवाला राजा दुर्योधन उस समय द्रोणाचार्यके बाँधे हुए कवचको धारण करके एकमात्र रथकी सहायतासे युद्धभूमिमें गया था
droṇenābaddha-kavaco rājā duryodhanas tataḥ | yayāv eka-rathenājau haya-saṃskāra-vit prabho ||
Sañjaya said: Then King Duryodhana, wearing the armor fastened upon him by Droṇa, went forth onto the battlefield with a single chariot. Skilled in the training and management of horses, he advanced—an image of royal resolve sustained by martial expertise and the protective authority of his teacher, even as the war’s moral weight presses upon every such act.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial action in war is shaped not only by personal will but also by training, preparedness, and the authority of one’s teacher. It subtly underscores the ethical tension of relying on external protections and expertise while stepping into a conflict whose consequences are grave.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, equipped with armor secured by Droṇa, proceeds onto the battlefield using a single chariot. The detail that he is an expert in horse-training emphasizes his practical competence as he enters combat.