Shloka 48
प्रकाशमान सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी द्रोणाचार्यद्वारा दग्ध किये जाते हुए पांचालोंके बल और पराक्रम भी दग्ध हो गये थे। वे उत्साहशून्य तथा अचेत हो गये थे ।। तान् दृष्टवा पीडितान् बाणैद्रोणेन मधुसूदन: । जयैषी पाण्डुपुत्राणामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्,उन सबको द्रोणाचार्यके बाणोंद्वारा पीड़ित देख पाण्डवोंकी विजय चाहनेवाले मधुसूदन भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने इस प्रकार कहा--
prakāśamāna-sūrya-samaṁ tejasvī droṇācārya-dagdhyamānānāṁ pāñcālānāṁ balaṁ parākramaś ca dagdhaḥ. te utsāhaśūnyāś ca acetāś ca babhūvuḥ. tān dṛṣṭvā pīḍitān bāṇair droṇena madhusūdanaḥ, jayaiṣī pāṇḍuputrāṇām idaṁ vacanam abravīt.
As the radiant Droṇa blazed like the shining sun, the Pañcālas—being scorched by him—found not only their bodies but even their strength and valor consumed. Their spirit collapsed; they became stunned and helpless. Seeing them tormented by Droṇa’s arrows, Madhusūdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa), intent on securing victory for the sons of Pāṇḍu, spoke these words—
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a formidable force overwhelms allies, the immediate ethical duty of leadership is to restore clarity and resolve through wise counsel and right strategy—so that courage does not collapse into helplessness. Kṛṣṇa’s intervention signals that victory in a dharma-war requires not only strength but steadiness of mind and timely guidance.
Droṇa, compared to the blazing sun, is devastating the Pañcāla forces with his arrows, leaving them dispirited and stunned. Seeing their plight, Kṛṣṇa—seeking the Pāṇḍavas’ victory—begins to speak, setting up the next tactical and moral direction in the battle.