Shloka 23
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
उस महाबली महारथी पांचाल वीरके मारे जानेपर युधिष्ठिर द्रोणाचार्यसे अत्यन्त भयभीत हो गये और वेगशाली घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए रथके द्वारा युद्धस्थलसे दूर चले गये ।। पज्चाला: केकया मत्स्या चेदिकारूषकोसला: । युधिष्ठिरमभीप्सन्तो दृष्टवा द्रोणमुपाद्रवन्,उस समय युधिष्ठिरकी रक्षाके लिये पांचाल, केकय, मत्स्य, चेदि, कारूष और कोसल देशोंके योद्धा द्रोणाचार्यको देखते ही उनपर टूट पड़े
sañjaya uvāca |
tasmin mahābali-mahārathe pāñcāla-vīre hate yudhiṣṭhiro droṇācāryād atyanta-bhayabhīto 'bhavat, vegavaddhir aśvair yuktena rathena ca raṇabhūmim apakrāntavān dūram ||
pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāś cedi-kārūṣa-kośalāḥ |
yudhiṣṭhiram abhīpsanto dṛṣṭvā droṇam upādravan ||
Sañjaya said: When that mighty Pāñcāla hero—an eminent chariot-warrior—was slain, Yudhiṣṭhira became intensely afraid of Droṇācārya and withdrew far from the battlefield in a chariot yoked with swift horses. Then, seeking to protect Yudhiṣṭhira, the warriors of the Pāñcālas, Kekayas, Matsyas, Cedis, Kārūṣas, and Kośalas, on seeing Droṇa, immediately rushed upon him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension of kingship in war: even a righteous ruler like Yudhiṣṭhira can be shaken by fear when confronted with overwhelming force, yet the duty of allied warriors is to uphold protection and solidarity, placing the safety of the leader and the cause above personal risk.
After a prominent Pāñcāla chariot-hero is killed, Yudhiṣṭhira retreats from the battlefield out of fear of Droṇa. Seeing Droṇa and intent on safeguarding Yudhiṣṭhira, multiple allied contingents—Pāñcālas, Kekayas, Matsyas, Cedis, Kārūṣas, and Kośalas—charge at Droṇa.