Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.21.60 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 60
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
तस्मिन् हते राजपुत्रे पज्चालानां यशस्करे । हत द्रोणं हत द्रोणमित्यासीज्नि:स्वनो महान्
tasmin hate rājaputre pāñcālānāṃ yaśaskare | hata droṇaṃ hata droṇam ity āsīj niḥsvano mahān ||
Sanjaya said: When that prince—who enhanced the fame of the Pāñcālas—was slain, a great uproar rose there, with cries of “Kill Droṇa! Kill Droṇa!” The shout showed how the fall of a famed warrior at once became a strategic and moral turning point: the battle’s aim shifted to bringing down Droṇa, seen as the chief pillar of the Kaurava cause.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a single death in war can redirect collective intention and moral focus: the army’s cry to kill Droṇa shows the shift from general combat to targeting a pivotal leader, raising ethical questions about ends, means, and the escalation of violence in pursuit of victory.
After a renowned prince associated with the Pāñcālas is killed, a loud commotion breaks out on the battlefield. Warriors begin shouting repeatedly, “Kill Droṇa! Kill Droṇa!”, indicating an immediate push to bring down Droṇa as the decisive objective.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata (Gita Press) in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.