Shloka 21
देवविमान-दर्शनम् / The Celestial Assembly and Vimana Spectacle
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Encounter Framed Cosmically
यथा नायं समायुज्ज्याद् धार्तराष्ट्रनू कथंचन । न च सेना: पराजय्यात् तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्,ऐसी दशामें जैसे भी सम्भव हो; वे धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोपर आक्रमण न कर सकें और किसी प्रकार भी कौरव-सेनाओंको परास्त न करने पावें, ऐसी कोई नीति बनानी चाहिये
yathā nāyaṃ samāyujjyād dhārtarāṣṭrānū kathaṃcana | na ca senāḥ parājayyāt tathā nītir vidhīyatām |
Droṇa said: “Devise such a policy that, in whatever way possible, he may not be able to engage the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra in battle at all, and that the armies may not be defeated. Let a strategy be framed to prevent any overthrow of the Kaurava forces.”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds nīti—pragmatic counsel in a crisis: strategy should aim to prevent an opponent from gaining engagement on favorable terms and to avoid unnecessary defeat of one’s forces. It highlights the ethical tension between duty in war and the prudence of minimizing loss through careful planning.
Droṇa is giving tactical counsel: he urges that a plan be devised so that the adversary cannot effectively attack the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and so that the Kaurava forces do not suffer defeat. The emphasis is on preventing direct engagement and safeguarding the army through policy and strategy.