Shloka 3
संजय कहते हैं--राजन! राजा द्रपदने एक महान् यज्ञमें देवाराथन करके द्रोणाचार्यका विनाश करनेके लिये प्रज्वलित अग्निसे जिस पुत्रको प्राप्त किया था, उस पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्नने जब देखा कि आचार्य द्रोण बड़े उद्विग्न हैं और उनका चित्त शोकसे व्याकुल है, तब उन्होंने उनपर धावा कर दिया ।। स धनुर्जैत्रमादाय घोरं जलदनि:स्वनम् । दृढज्यमजरं दिव्यं शरं चाशीविषोपमम्,उन पांचालपुत्रने द्रोणाचार्यके वधकी इच्छा रखकर सुदृढ़ प्रत्यंचासे युक्त, मेघगर्जनाके समान गम्भीर ध्वनि करनेवाले, कभी जीर्ण न होनेवाले, भयंकर तथा विजयशील दिव्य धनुष हाथमें लेकर उसके ऊपर विषधर सर्पके समान भयदायक और प्रचण्ड लपटोंवाले अग्निके तुल्य तेजस्वी एक बाण रखा
sañjaya uvāca | sa dhanuḥ jaitram ādāya ghoraṁ jaladaniḥsvanam | dṛḍhajyam ajaraṁ divyaṁ śaraṁ cāśīviṣopamam ||
Sanjaya said: O King, Dhrishtadyumna—the Panchala prince born from Drupada’s sacrificial fire for the very purpose of bringing about Drona’s downfall—seeing the preceptor Drona shaken and his mind overwhelmed by grief, rushed to attack him. Intent on Drona’s death, he seized his dreadful, victory-bringing celestial bow, tightly strung and unaging, whose sound was like the rumble of storm-clouds, and set upon it an arrow as fearsome as a venomous serpent—blazing with a fire-like brilliance. The scene underscores the grim moral tension of war: a divinely-ordained instrument of vengeance confronting a revered teacher at a moment of human vulnerability.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of dharma in war: even revered figures can become targets when larger vows, destinies, and political duties collide. It also shows how grief and mental disturbance on the battlefield can invite decisive action from an opponent, raising questions about honor, timing, and the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare.
Sanjaya describes Dhrishtadyumna, born from Drupada’s sacrifice to destroy Drona, charging at Drona when he appears distressed. Dhrishtadyumna takes up a formidable celestial bow and fits a terrifying, serpent-like arrow, preparing to strike.