Shloka 18
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
सर्वानसम्भ्रमाद् राजन प्रत्यविद्धयत् त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: । द्रोणं द्रौ्णिं च कर्ण च विव्याध च तवात्मजम्,राजन्! इस प्रकार सभी महारथियोंने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ पांचालराजकुमारपर अपने-अपने बाणोंका प्रहार किया। उस महासमरमें द्रोणाचार्यकी रक्षाके लिये सात वीरोंद्वारा घायल किये जानेपर भी धूृष्टद्युम्नने बिना किसी घबराहटके उन सबको तीन-तीन बाणोंसे बींध डाला। फिर द्रोणाचार्य, अश्वत्थामा, कर्ण तथा आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनको भी घायल कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | sarvān asambhramād rājan pratyaviddhayat tribhis tribhiḥ | droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca karṇaṃ ca vivyādha ca tavātmajam ||
Sañjaya said: O King, without losing composure, he struck them all back—each with three arrows. He then pierced Droṇa, Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā, and Karṇa, and also wounded your own son.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness (asambhrama) amid crisis: even when attacked by many, a warrior-leader should act with clarity and controlled response rather than fear. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield norm of proportional, skillful counteraction within kṣatriya conduct.
In the thick of battle, Dhṛṣṭadyumna is assailed by multiple great warriors defending Droṇa. Remaining unshaken, he retaliates by piercing each opponent with three arrows, and then specifically wounds Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā, Karṇa, and Duryodhana.