Shloka 333
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
द्रौ्णि पाउ्चालतनयो वाग्भिरातर्जयत् तदा । समरांगणमें अश्व॒त्थामाद्वारा पीड़ित होनेपर रणदुर्मद पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्नने उसे वाणीद्वारा डाँट बतायी और इस प्रकार कहा--
sañjaya uvāca | drauṇiṃ pāñcālatanayo vāgbhir ātarjayat tadā | samarāṅgaṇe aśvatthāmā dvārā pīḍito bhūtvā raṇadurmadāḥ pāñcālarājakumāro dhṛṣṭadyumno vācā taṃ paribhartsyaivam uvāca ||
Sanjaya said: Then the son of the Panchala line rebuked Drona’s son with sharp words. On the battlefield, when Ashvatthama was pressing him hard, the battle-maddened Panchala prince Dhrishtadyumna censured him verbally and spoke thus—framing the conflict not only as a clash of weapons but also as a contest of resolve, honor, and righteous conduct amid war’s fury.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, warriors are portrayed as accountable not only through weapons but also through moral and social judgment: speech becomes a tool to challenge an opponent’s conduct, courage, and adherence to kshatriya honor, reminding that dharma is contested and asserted in multiple ways on the battlefield.
Sanjaya reports that Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince, is being hard-pressed by Ashvatthama in battle. In response, Dhrishtadyumna rebukes Ashvatthama with harsh words and begins a speech (introduced by “thus he said”), setting up the next verses where the verbal confrontation continues.