Shloka 24
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज द्रौणिमभ्यद्रवद् रणे । महाराज! शूरवीर पांचालों और सोमकोंको भागते देख धूष्टद्युम्नने रणक्षेत्रमें अश्व॒त्थामापर धावा किया ।। ततः काञ्चनचित्राणां सजलाम्बुदनादिनाम्
sañjaya uvāca | dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja drauṇim abhyadravad raṇe | mahārāja! śūravīra pāñcālān somakāṁś ca bhāgato dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumno raṇakṣetre ’śvatthāmānam upari dhāvāṁ cakāra || tataḥ kāñcanacitrāṇāṁ sajalāmbudanādinām … |
Sanjaya said: O King, in the midst of battle Dhṛṣṭadyumna charged straight at Droṇa’s son, Aśvatthāman. Seeing the valiant Pāñcālas and the Somakas in flight, Dhṛṣṭadyumna rushed upon Aśvatthāman on the battlefield. Thereupon—amid glittering war-gear adorned with gold, and a deep roar like thunder from rain-laden clouds…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya leadership under crisis: when allied troops break and flee, a commander is expected to restore morale through personal courage and decisive action. Ethically, it shows how duty (protecting one’s side) can demand immediate, risky engagement even amid fear and disorder.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, seeing the Pāñcālas and Somakas running, charges directly at Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) on the battlefield. The next line begins to describe the ensuing clash with imagery of gold-adorned arms and thunder-like battle-noise.