Shloka 21
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
तथैव तव पुत्रस्य रथोदारा: प्रहारिण: । न शेकु: पाण्डवीं सेनां पाल्यमानां किरीटिना,आप्तैराशु परिज्ञातं भारद्वाजचिकीर्षितम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! जब द्रोणाचार्यने कुछ अन्तर रखकर राजा युधिष्ठछिरको कैद करनेकी प्रतिज्ञा कर ली, तब आपके सैनिकोंने युधिष्ठिरके पकड़े जानेका उद्योग सुनकर जोर-जोरसे सिंहनाद करना और भुजाओंपर ताल ठोंकना आरम्भ किया। भरतनन्दन! उस समय धर्मराज युधिष्छिरने शीघ्र ही अपने विश्वसनीय गुप्तचरोंद्वारा यथायोग्य सारी बातें पूर्णरूपसे जान लीं कि द्रोणाचार्य क्या करना चाहते हैं इसी प्रकार आपके पुत्रकी सेनाके उदार महारथी, जो प्रहार करनेमें कुशल थे, पाण्डव- सेनाको परास्त न कर सके; क्योंकि किरीटधारी अर्जुन उसकी रक्षा कर रहे थे
tathaiva tava putrasya rathodārāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | na śekuḥ pāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ pālyamānāṃ kirīṭinā | āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam ||
Sañjaya said: Likewise, the noble chariot-warriors of your son—skilled in striking—could not overpower the Pāṇḍava host, for it was being protected by Arjuna, the wearer of the diadem. And what Bharadvāja (Droṇa) intended to accomplish was swiftly and accurately ascertained through trusted informants.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength in war is not only force but also protection, coordination, and timely knowledge. Even powerful attackers fail when the defended side has a capable protector (Arjuna) and when the opponent’s intentions (Droṇa’s plan) are quickly understood through reliable intelligence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the foremost chariot-warriors fighting for Duryodhana cannot break the Pāṇḍava formation because Arjuna is guarding it. He also notes that Droṇa’s intended maneuver is promptly discovered through trusted agents, indicating alertness and preparedness on the Pāṇḍava side.