Shloka 8
अध्याय ३१ — द्रोणानीके तुमुलसंग्रामः
The Tumultuous Battle around Droṇa’s Formation
यं यं प्रमथते द्रोण: पञ्चालानां रथव्रजम् | तत्र तत्र तु पाज्चाल्यो धृष्टद्युम्नो5भ्यवर्तत,पांचालोंके जिस-जिस रथसमुदायको द्रोणाचार्य मथ डालनेका प्रयत्न करते, वहाँ-वहाँ पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्न उनका सामना करनेके लिये आ जाता था
sañjaya uvāca | yaṃ yaṃ pramathate droṇaḥ pañcālānāṃ rathavrajam | tatra tatra tu pāñcālyo dhṛṣṭadyumno 'bhyavartata ||
Sañjaya said: Wherever Droṇa sought to crush the gathered chariot-formations of the Pāñcālas, there the Pāñcāla prince Dhṛṣṭadyumna repeatedly moved forward to confront him. The scene shows force answered by force—each assault met by a deliberate stand—amid the grim duties and rivalries of the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores steadfastness and responsibility in conflict: when a powerful aggressor presses an attack, a leader must respond promptly to protect his forces. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—meeting challenge directly—while also showing how war compels repeated cycles of escalation and counter-escalation.
Droṇa repeatedly attacks and tries to break the Pāñcāla chariot-groups. Each time, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcāla prince and commander, advances to meet Droṇa, positioning himself wherever the pressure is greatest.