Shloka 26
(स हि जातो महाराज द्रोणस्य निधन प्रति । मर्त्यधर्मतया तस्माद् भारद्वाजो व्यमुहयत ।।) महाराज! वह द्रोणाचार्यका वध करनेके लिये पैदा हुआ था; इसलिये उसे देखकर मर्त्यभावका आश्रय ले द्रोणाचार्य मोहित हो गये। तं तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य पुत्रस्ते दुर्मुख: शत्रुकर्षण: । प्रियं चिकीर्षद्रोणस्य धृष्टद्युम्मनमवारयत्,राजन! शत्रुओंका संहार करनेवाले आपके पुत्र दुर्मुखने द्रोणाचार्यको उदास देख धष्टद्युम्नको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया। वह द्रोणाचार्यका प्रिय करना चाहता था
sa hi jāto mahārāja droṇasya nidhana-prati | martyadharmatayā tasmād bhāradvājo vyamuhyata || taṃ tu samprekṣya putras te durmukhaḥ śatrukarṣaṇaḥ | priyaṃ cikīrṣad droṇasya dhṛṣṭadyumnam avārayat ||
Sañjaya said: O King, he was born to bring about Droṇa’s death. Therefore, when Bhāradvāja’s son Droṇa beheld him, he took refuge in the frailty of mortal nature and fell into bewilderment. Seeing Droṇa downcast, your son Durmukha—crusher of foes—wishing to do what was pleasing to Droṇa, held Dhṛṣṭadyumna back from advancing.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even great warriors and teachers can be overcome by martyadharma—human vulnerability and emotional shock—showing how inner states affect ethical and strategic judgment in war.
Sañjaya explains that Dhṛṣṭadyumna is destined to cause Droṇa’s death; seeing him unsettles Droṇa. Durmukha, wanting to please Droṇa, restrains Dhṛṣṭadyumna from pressing forward.