Shloka 36
दुर्योधनो5पि राजेन्द्र पाउ्चाल्यस्योत्तमौजस: । जघान चतुरो<स्याश्वानुभौ तौ पार्ष्णिसारथी,राजेन्द्र! तब दुर्योधनने भी पांचालराज उत्तमौजाके चारों घोड़ों और दोनों पार्श्वरक्षकोंको सारथिसहित मार डाला
duryodhano 'pi rājendra pāñcālyasyottamaujasaḥ | jaghāna caturo 'syāśvān ubhau tau pārṣṇisārathī ||
Drona said: “O best of kings, Duryodhana too struck down the four horses of Uttamaujas, the Pāñcāla prince; and he also slew the two flank-guards together with the charioteer.” Thus, in the press of battle, the assault is aimed not only at the warrior but at the entire chariot-unit, revealing war’s ruthless, outcome-driven ethic when victory is prized over restraint.
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare can shift from idealized dharma-yuddha to pragmatic destruction of an opponent’s entire chariot-system (horses, guards, charioteer). It invites reflection on the ethical tension between proclaimed rules of combat and the harsh realities of victory-driven violence.
Drona reports that Duryodhana attacked the Pāñcāla hero Uttamaujas by killing his four horses and then killing the two side-guards along with the charioteer, effectively disabling and neutralizing Uttamaujas’ chariot in the ongoing battle.