Shloka 32
आचार्य-क्षमा, देśa–kāla-नīti, तथा भेद-दोषः
Teacher-Reconciliation, Timing-Policy, and the Fault of Factionalism
उपासते च सैन्यानि गृध्रास्तव समन्ततः: । तप्स्यसे वाहिनीं दृष्टवा पार्थबाणप्रपीडिताम् | पराभूता च व: सेना न कश्चिद् योद्धुमिच्छति,सेनाके चारों ओर गीध बैठ रहे हैं, इससे जान पड़ता है; तुम अपनी सेनाको अर्जुनके बाणोंसे पीड़ित होती देख मनमें संताप करोगे। तुम्हारी सेना अभीसे तिरस्कृत-सी हो रही है, कोई भी सैनिक युद्ध करना नहीं चाहता है
upāsate ca sainyāni gṛdhrās tava samantataḥ | tapsyase vāhinīṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthabāṇaprapīḍitām | parābhūtā ca vaḥ senā na kaścid yoddhum icchati |
Drona said: “Vultures are gathering all around your forces; this is an omen. When you see your army harried and crushed by Arjuna’s arrows, you will burn with inner anguish. Even now your host stands as if already dishonoured and defeated—no one among your soldiers wishes to fight.”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and psychological collapse can precede physical defeat: ominous signs and fear sap resolve, and an army that loses courage becomes effectively defeated even before the clash. It also reflects the epic’s view that war is shadowed by death and consequence, not merely heroism.
Droṇa speaks to the opposing side’s leader(s), pointing to vultures gathering around their troops as a bad omen. He predicts that Arjuna’s arrows will grievously afflict their battle-host and that their soldiers’ morale is already broken—none is eager to fight.