Shloka 21
प्रास्फुरज्नयनं चास्य वाम॑ बाहुस्तथैव च | महारथी द्रोणाचार्य उस समय तेजोहीन-से हो रहे थे। उनकी बायीं आँख और बायीं भुजा फड़क रही थी ।। विमनाश्वाभवद् युद्धे दृष्टवा पार्षतमग्रत:,वे युद्धमें अपने सामने धृष्टद्युम्मको देखकर मन-ही-मन उदास हो गये। साथ ही ब्रह्मवादी महर्षियोंके ब्रह्मलोकमें चलनेके सम्बन्धमें कहे हुए वचनोंका स्मरण करके उन्होंने उत्तम युद्धके द्वारा अपने प्राणोंको त्याग देनेका विचार किया
sañjaya uvāca | prāsphuraj nayanam cāsya vāma-bāhus tathaiva ca | vimanaś cābhavad yuddhe dṛṣṭvā pārṣatam agrataḥ | brahmavādi-maharṣīṇāṁ brahmaloke gamana-sambandhe kathitāni vacāṁsi smṛtvā sa uttama-yuddhena prāṇān tyaktum aicchat |
Sañjaya said: At that time Droṇācārya, the great chariot-warrior, seemed to lose his radiance. His left eye and left arm began to twitch—omens of misfortune. Seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Drupada, standing before him in battle, he grew inwardly despondent. Remembering the words spoken by brahman-speaking seers about attaining the Brahma-world, he resolved to relinquish his life through a noble death in combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a warrior’s ethical orientation can shift under the pressure of destiny: ominous bodily signs and remembrance of spiritual counsel lead Droṇa to accept an honorable death rather than cling to worldly success. It juxtaposes kṣatriya duty (meeting death in battle) with a transcendent horizon (Brahmaloka), showing how inner resolve is shaped by both dharma and foreknowledge of fate.
Sanjaya describes Droṇa’s inauspicious omens—his left eye and left arm twitching—followed by his dejection upon seeing Dhṛṣṭadyumna before him. Recalling seers’ words about attaining Brahmaloka, Droṇa forms the intention to give up his life through a ‘noble battle,’ signaling a decisive psychological turn as he faces his fated adversary.