Shloka 15
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
ततो रथादवप्लुत्य वेगमास्थाय पाण्डव: । निमील्य नयने राजन् पदातिद्रोणमभ्ययात्
tato rathād avaplutya vegam āsthāya pāṇḍavaḥ | nimīlya nayane rājan padāti droṇam abhyayāt ||
Sañjaya said: Then the Pāṇḍava leapt down from his chariot and, gathering speed, O King, with his eyes closed, advanced on foot toward Droṇa—an act shaped by the grim ethics of battle, where resolve and necessity drive a warrior to confront even a revered teacher.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral complexity of war: even revered figures like a guru may become opponents, and a warrior’s determined action—here symbolized by leaping down and advancing with closed eyes—can reflect inner conflict, resolve, and the pressure of duty amid violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a Pāṇḍava warrior jumps down from his chariot, gathers speed, closes his eyes, and advances on foot toward Droṇa, signaling an urgent, decisive confrontation in the battle.