Shloka 13
द्रोण–सात्यकि-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Sātyaki Engagement
द्रोण: शरैरसम्भ्रान्तो ज्यां चिच्छेदाशु वीर्यवान् विव्याध च हयानस्य ध्वजं सारथिमेव च,तब पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनने अपने बाणोंद्वारा द्रोणाचार्यके धनुषको काट देनेकी इच्छा की। महामना अर्जुन अभी इस प्रकार विचार कर ही रहे थे कि पराक्रमी द्रोणाचार्यने बिना किसी घबराहटके अपने बाणोंद्वारा शीघ्र ही उनके धनुषकी प्रत्यंचा काट डाली और अर्जुनके घोड़ों, ध्वज और सारथिको भी बींध डाला
sañjaya uvāca | droṇaḥ śarair asambhrānto jyāṃ ciccheda āśu vīryavān | vivyādha ca hayān asya dhvajaṃ sārathim eva ca ||
Sañjaya said: Mighty Droṇa, unshaken and without the least confusion, swiftly severed the bowstring with his arrows. He also pierced Arjuna’s horses, his banner, and even his charioteer—displaying calm mastery in battle and turning Arjuna’s intent to disable him into an immediate test of composure and skill.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness under pressure (asambhrānta) as a decisive virtue in dharmic warfare: technical prowess matters, but composure and clarity of action can overturn an opponent’s intention in an instant.
As Arjuna considers cutting Droṇa’s bow, Droṇa acts first: he swiftly severs Arjuna’s bowstring and then strikes Arjuna’s horses, banner, and charioteer, asserting battlefield dominance and disrupting Arjuna’s combat readiness.