Shloka 126
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
द्रोणादस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठात् सर्वशस्त्र भूतामपि । राजेन्द्र! यदि रणक्षेत्रमें साक्षात् वजधारी इन्द्र अथवा भगवान् विष्णु सम्पूर्ण देवताओंके साथ आकर दुर्योधनकी सहायता करें, तो भी मेरे जीते-जी वह आपको पकड़ नहीं सकेगा; अतः आपको सम्पूर्ण अस्त्र-शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्यसे भय नहीं करना चाहिये
droṇād astrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhāt sarvaśastrabhṛtām api | rājendra yadi raṇakṣetre sākṣād vajradhārī indra athavā bhagavān viṣṇuḥ sampūrṇadevatābhiḥ saha āgatya duryodhanasya sahāyatāṃ kuryāt, tathāpi mama jīvati sa tvāṃ grahītuṃ na śaknoti; ataḥ tvaṃ sampūrṇāstrāśastradhāriṣu śreṣṭhād droṇācāryāt bhayaṃ na kartavyam ||
Arjuna said: “O king, even though Droṇa is the foremost among those who wield missiles and weapons—indeed among all armed warriors—still, if on the battlefield Indra himself, the wielder of the thunderbolt, or Lord Viṣṇu, were to come with all the gods to aid Duryodhana, even then, while I yet live, he would not be able to seize you. Therefore you should not fear Droṇācārya, though he is the greatest among all bearers of arms.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fearlessness grounded in duty: Arjuna frames protection of the rightful leader as his kṣatriya responsibility, asserting steadfast resolve even against overwhelming, seemingly divine opposition, and urging the king not to succumb to fear.
In the Droṇa Parva, with Droṇa commanding the Kaurava forces and posing a grave threat, Arjuna addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) to reassure him: despite Droṇa’s unmatched martial skill, Arjuna vows that as long as he lives, the enemy will not be able to capture the king—even if Duryodhana were aided by Indra, Viṣṇu, and the gods.