Shloka 52
गदां विनिहतां दृष्टवा पार्षतः शत्रुतापन: । द्रोणाय शक्ति चिक्षेप सर्वपारशवीं शुभाम्
sañjaya uvāca | gadāṃ vinihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā pārṣataḥ śatrutāpanaḥ | droṇāya śaktiṃ cikṣepa sarvapārśavīṃ śubhām ||
Sañjaya dijo: Al ver que su maza había quedado ineficaz, Dhrishtadyumna—hijo de Pṛṣata, azote de los enemigos—arrojó contra Droṇa una espléndida lanza, forjada enteramente de hierro. En la ética implacable del deber en el campo de batalla, cuando un arma falla, el guerrero pasa a otra y aprieta el combate sin vacilar, aun contra un maestro-comandante formidable.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of steadfastness and adaptability: when a chosen means fails, a warrior committed to his duty promptly adopts another means. It also reflects the uncompromising nature of kṣatriya-dharma in war, where resolve and tactical flexibility are prized even against revered figures like a teacher-commander.
Dhrishtadyumna sees that his mace attack has been neutralized. He then switches weapons and hurls a splendid, all-iron spear (śakti) at Drona, as Sanjaya continues narrating the intense combat.