Shloka 36
“जब कौरव अधर्मपूर्वक हमें राज्यसे निर्वासित कर रहे थे, तब जिन्होंने हमें रोकने (शान्त करने)-की ही चेष्टा की थी; किंतु उनका हित चाहनेवाले हमलोगोंका उस समय उन्होंने साथ नहीं दिया था ।। यो5सावत्यन्तमस्मासु कुर्वाण: सौहृदं परम् । हतस्तदर्थ मरणं गमिष्यामि सबान्धव:,“जो (इस प्रकार) हमलोगोंपर अत्यन्त स्नेह करनेवाले थे वे द्रोणाचार्य मारे गये हैं; अतः: उनके लिये अपने भाइयोंसहित मैं भी मर जाऊँगा”
yadā kauravā adharmapūrvakaṃ asmān rājyād nirvāsayanti sma, tadā ye asmān nivārayituṃ (śāntayituṃ) eva ceṣṭitavantaḥ; kintu asmākaṃ hitaiṣiṇaḥ santo ’pi te tadā asmābhiḥ sārdhaṃ na tiṣṭhanti sma. yo ’sāv atyantam asmāsu kurvāṇaḥ sauhṛdaṃ param, hataḥ; tadarthaṃ maraṇaṃ gamiṣyāmi sabāndhavaḥ.
Sanjaya said: “When the Kauravas were driving us from the kingdom by unrighteous means, there were those who tried only to restrain and pacify the situation; yet, though we sought their welfare, they did not stand with us then. Now that Drona—who showed us the highest friendship and deep affection—has been slain, I too will go to death for his sake, together with my kinsmen.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts professed goodwill with actual support in times of injustice, and highlights how grief and loyalty can drive extreme vows. Ethically, it points to the tension between dharma (standing with the wronged) and the tragic consequences when alliances fail and war consumes even revered figures.
In the aftermath of Droṇa’s death, a speaker recalls the earlier exile of the Pāṇḍavas by the Kauravas through adharma, noting that certain elders tried to ‘pacify’ but did not truly stand with them. Now, with Droṇa slain—remembered as deeply affectionate—the speaker declares an intention to die for him along with his relatives.