Shloka 1

द्रोणसेनापत्यं, व्यूहविन्यासः, उत्पातदर्शनं, आरम्भयुद्धम्

Droṇa’s Command, Battle-Formations, Omens, and Opening Engagement

Devanagari script

/ अप ह< बक। ] अत काए: षष्ठो 5 ध्याय: दुर्योधनका द्रोणाचार्यसे सेनापति होनेके लिये प्रार्थना करना संजय उवाच कर्णस्य वचन श्रुत्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा । सेनामध्यगतं द्रोणमिदं वचनमत्रवीत्‌,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्‌! कर्णका यह कथन सुनकर उस समय राजा दुर्योधनने सेनाके मध्यभागमें स्थित हुए आचार्य द्रोणसे इस प्रकार कहा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | karṇasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā duryodhanas tadā | senāmadhyagataṃ droṇam idaṃ vacanam abravīt ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: O King, having heard Karna’s words, Duryodhana then addressed Acharya Drona, who stood in the midst of the army. The scene frames a decisive ethical moment in war-leadership: counsel is weighed, authority is invoked, and command is sought not merely for victory but for the legitimacy and cohesion of the Kaurava host.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'sañjaya uvāca', 'definition': 'Sanjaya said (narrator reporting to Dhritarashtra)'}, {'term': 'karṇasya', 'definition': 'of Karna'}, {'term': 'vacanam', 'definition': 'speech, statement, words'}, {'term': 'śrutvā', 'definition': 'having heard'}, {'term': 'rājā', 'definition': 'the king'}, {'term': 'duryodhanaḥ', 'definition': 'Duryodhana (leader of the Kauravas)'}, {'term': 'tadā', 'definition': 'then, at that time'}, {'term': 'senā-madhya-gatam', 'definition': 'situated in the middle of the army'}, {'term': 'droṇam', 'definition': 'Drona (the preceptor, warrior-teacher)'}, {'term': 'idam', 'definition': 'this'}, {'term': 'abravīt', 'definition': 'said, spoke'}]

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Karna
• Duryodhana
• Drona
• the army (Kaurava host)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in warfare, decisions about command and strategy arise from listening to counsel and recognizing legitimate authority; leadership is shown as accountable to advice, hierarchy, and the need to unify the army.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Karna’s statement, Duryodhana turns to Drona, positioned amid the troops, and begins to address him—setting up a request and discussion about command and conduct in the ongoing battle.