Shloka 10
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ९०: हार्दिक्यस्य पराक्रमः
Kṛtavarmā’s Stand against the Pāṇḍavas
अध्यर्धमात्रे धनुषां सहस्रे तनयस्तव । अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां स्थित्वा दुर्मर्षणो5ब्रवीत्,तदनन्तर एक हजार रथी, सौ हाथीसवार, तीन हजार घुड़सवार और दस हजार पैदल सैनिकोंके साथ आकर अर्जुनसे डेढ़ हजार धनुषकी दूरीपर स्थित हो समस्त कौरव सैनिकोंके आगे होकर आपके पुत्र दुर्मर्षणने इस प्रकार कहा--
sañjaya uvāca |
adhyardhamātre dhanuṣāṁ sahasre tanayas tava |
agratḥ sarvasainyānāṁ sthitvā durmarṣaṇo 'bravīt ||
Sañjaya said: Then your son Durmarṣaṇa, hard to endure in battle, stationed himself at the head of all the Kaurava forces, at a distance of about one and a half thousand bow-lengths, and spoke. The scene underscores the martial code of the day: leaders step forward first, asserting resolve and challenging the foe, even as the vast machinery of war gathers behind them.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of taking the forefront in conflict: a leader publicly assumes position and speaks first, embodying responsibility and resolve before the assembled troops. It also reflects the epic’s ethical tension—valor and duty are displayed even within a destructive war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Durmarṣaṇa moves ahead of the Kaurava forces, takes a forward position at a stated distance measured in bow-lengths, and begins to address the situation—setting up a direct confrontation with the opposing side (notably Arjuna in the surrounding context).