Shloka 2
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 37: Sañjaya’s Account of Abhimanyu’s Precision Disruption of a Chariot Contingent
ततो राजानमावृत्तं सौभद्रं प्रति संयुगे । दृष्टवा द्रोणो5ब्रवीद् योधान् परीप्सध्वं नराधिपम्,उस युद्धस्थलमें राजा दुर्योधनको अभिमन्युकी ओर लौटते देख द्रोणाचार्यने समस्त योद्धाओंसे कहा--'वीरो! कौरव-नरेशकी सब ओरसे रक्षा करो
tato rājānam āvṛttaṃ saubhadraṃ prati saṃyuge | dṛṣṭvā droṇo 'bravīd yodhān parīpsadhvaṃ narādhipam ||
Then, in the thick of battle, seeing King Duryodhana turning back toward Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), Droṇa addressed the warriors: “Protect the lord of men (our king) on all sides.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of royal warfare, safeguarding the king is treated as a paramount duty of the army and its commanders; Droṇa’s command reflects the primacy of protecting leadership and maintaining order in battle, even amid morally fraught tactics.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa sees Duryodhana turning toward Abhimanyu during the fight and immediately instructs the Kaurava warriors to guard their king on all sides, signaling a tactical regrouping around Duryodhana as the confrontation with Abhimanyu intensifies.