Shloka 25
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
भारद्वाजं च ते सर्वे न शेकुः प्रतिवीक्षितुम् । मध्यंदिनमनुप्राप्तं सहस्रांशुमिव प्रभो,प्रभो! जैसे दोपहरके प्रचण्ड मार्तण्डकी ओर देखना कठिन होता है, उसी प्रकार वे समस्त योद्धा भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोणाचार्यकी ओर देखनेमें भी समर्थ न हो सके
bhāradvājaṃ ca te sarve na śekuḥ prativīkṣitum | madhyaṃdinam anuprāptaṃ sahasrāṃśum iva prabho ||
Sañjaya said: All those warriors could not bear to look upon Bhāradvāja’s son (Droṇa). O lord, just as it is hard to gaze at the thousand-rayed sun when midday has arrived, so too were they unable to face him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power and moral-psychological dominance can overwhelm opponents even before weapons decide the outcome. It suggests that in dharmic warfare, inner steadiness and courage are as crucial as physical strength; lacking them, warriors cannot even ‘face’ a formidable leader.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the warriors on the field were unable to look directly at Droṇācārya. Droṇa’s presence is compared to the blazing midday sun—too intense to behold—indicating his terrifying momentum and ascendancy in that phase of the battle.