Shloka 28

द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता

Devanagari script

ततस्तमाचार्यसुतं धृष्टद्युम्न: प्रतापवान्‌ । मर्मभिद्धि: शरैस्ती3क्ष्णर्णघान भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ ऐसा कहकर प्रतापी धृष्टद्युम्नने मर्मभेदी एवं पैने बाणोंद्वारा आचार्यपुत्रको घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

tatas tam ācārya-sutaṁ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān | marmabhibhiḥ śarais tīkṣṇair aghān bharatarṣabha ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: Then the valiant Dhṛṣṭadyumna—O bull among the Bharatas—struck the preceptor’s son with sharp arrows that pierced the vital points, wounding him in the midst of battle.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

तम्him

आचार्य-सुतम्the teacher's son (Drona's son)

धृष्टद्युम्नःDhrishtadyumna

प्रतापवान्mighty, valorous

मर्म-भिद्भिःwith vital-part-piercing (ones)

शरैःwith arrows

तीक्ष्णैःsharp

अघान्sinful, wicked (as an epithet; text uncertain here)

भरत-ऋषभO bull among the Bharatas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Ācārya-suta (Droṇācārya’s son, Aśvatthāman)

Bharatarṣabha (addressed listener, Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: in the heat of battle, opponents are targeted decisively, even when they belong to revered lineages (the teacher’s son). It invites reflection on how dharma in war can demand ruthless action while still carrying moral weight and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna attacks the preceptor’s son (Aśvatthāman) and wounds him with sharp arrows aimed at vital points, marking an intense escalation in the fighting within Droṇa Parva.