Shloka 42
Droṇa Encircled at Night: Coalition Advance and Battlefield Omens (द्रोणपर्यावरणं रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)
जैसे शरभकी गर्जनासे भयभीत हो वनके सारे मृग भाग जाते हैं, उसी प्रकार भीमसेनसे डरे हुए समस्त गजराज भैरव स्वरसे आर्तनाद करते हुए भाग निकले ।। पुनश्चातीव वेगेन द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत् । तमवारयदाचार्यों वेलोद्त्तमिवार्णवम्,फिर उन्होंने बड़े वेगसे द्रोणाचार्यकी सेनापर चढ़ाई की। उस समय उत्ताल तरंगोंके साथ उठे हुए महासागरको जैसे तटकी भूमि रोक देती है, उसी प्रकार द्रोणाचार्यने भीमसेनको रोका
sañjaya uvāca |
yathā śarabhakī-garjanā-bhayabhītā vane sarve mṛgāḥ palāyante, tathā bhīmasenād bhītāḥ sarve gajarājā bhairava-svarair ārta-nādaṃ kurvāṇāḥ palāyanta ||
punaś cātīva vegena droṇānīkam upādravat |
taṃ avārayad ācāryo velodvṛttam ivārṇavam ||
Sañjaya said: Just as all the beasts of the forest flee in terror at the roar of the śarabha, so too the lordly elephants, frightened of Bhīmasena, ran off crying out with dreadful, anguished trumpeting. Then, once again, with tremendous speed he charged into Droṇa’s battle-array; but the Teacher (Droṇa) checked him—like the shoreline restraining the ocean when its waves surge up beyond their bounds.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts overwhelming force with principled restraint and mastery: Bhīma’s sheer power terrifies even war-elephants, yet it is checked by Droṇa’s disciplined command—like the shore setting a boundary to the ocean. Ethically, it highlights that power in war is not absolute; it is limited by strategy, authority, and control.
Bhīmasena’s onslaught causes the great elephants to panic and flee with fearful cries. Immediately after, Bhīma charges again at Droṇa’s forces, but Droṇācārya intercepts and restrains him, compared to a coastline holding back a surging sea.