Shloka 8
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
तथा तव परित्यागो न मे राजंश्रिकीर्षित: । अर्जुन बोले--राजन्! जिस प्रकार मेरे लिये आचार्यका कभी वध न करना कर्तव्य है, उसी प्रकार किसी भी दशामें आपका परित्याग करना मुझे अभीष्ट नहीं है ।। अप्येवं पाण्डव प्राणानुत्सूजेयमहं युधि,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
tathā tava parityāgo na me rājan śrikīrṣitaḥ | apy evaṃ pāṇḍava prāṇān utsṛjeyam ahaṃ yudhi, āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam ||
Arjuna said: O King, just as it is my duty never to slay my teacher, so too, in no circumstance do I desire to abandon you. Even if, O son of Pandu, I were to give up my life on the battlefield, I would not choose such desertion. Meanwhile, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira quickly learned—through trusted informants—what the son of Bharadvaja (Drona) intended to do.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds loyalty and ethical steadfastness in crisis: one should not abandon rightful obligations or trusted relationships out of fear or expediency, even under the pressure of war. It also highlights prudent governance—knowing an opponent’s intent through reliable intelligence.
Sañjaya addresses Dhṛtarāṣṭra, stating that abandoning him is not desired even at the cost of life in battle. In the unfolding war context, Yudhiṣṭhira quickly learns—via trusted agents—Droṇa’s intended move (notably, the plan connected with capturing Yudhiṣṭhira).