Shloka 34
Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)
व्याप्रदत्तस्तु पाउ्चाल्यो द्रोणं विव्याध मार्गणै: । पज्चाशता शितै राजंस्तत उच्चुक्रुशुर्जना:,राजन! पांचालदेशीय व्याप्रदत्तने पचास तीखे बाणोंद्वारा द्रोणाचार्यको घायल कर दिया। तब सब लोग जोर-जोरसे हर्षनाद करने लगे
vyāpradattas tu pāñcālyo droṇaṃ vivyādha mārgaṇaiḥ | pañcāśatā śitai rājāṃs tat uccukruśur janāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Vyāpradatta of the Pāñcālas struck Droṇa with arrows. O King, pierced by fifty keen shafts, Droṇa became the cause of a great outcry—men shouted aloud in exultation, as the tide of battle momentarily turned against the formidable teacher.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the volatility of war and the moral ambiguity of crowd reaction: people celebrate immediate tactical success, yet dharma is not simply measured by who is wounded or who gains advantage in a moment.
During the battle, the Pāñcāla warrior Vyāpradatta shoots Droṇa with fifty sharp arrows. Seeing Droṇa struck, the onlookers/warriors raise loud cries of jubilation.