Shloka 68
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय पार्षतः परवीरहा । द्रोणं विव्याध विंशत्या रुक्मपुड्खै: शिलाशितै:,तत्पश्चात् शत्रुवीरोंका हनन करनेवाले धृष्टद्युम्नने दूसरा धनुष लेकर पत्थरपर रगड़कर तेज किये हुए सोनेकी पाँखवाले बीस बाणोंसे द्रोणाचार्यको घायल कर दिया
athānyad dhanur ādāya pārṣataḥ paravīrahā | droṇaṃ vivyādha viṃśatyā rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces Dhṛṣṭadyumna, hijo de Pṛṣata y matador de héroes enemigos, tomó otro arco e hirió a Droṇa con veinte flechas—de plumas doradas y afiladas sobre piedra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and tactical readiness in war—when one weapon is spent or lost, a warrior must promptly adapt. Ethically, it also points to the tragic complexity of dharma in battle, where even venerable figures like Droṇa are subjected to lethal force in pursuit of victory.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna takes up another bow and shoots Droṇa with twenty gold-feathered arrows sharpened on stone, wounding him. Sañjaya reports this as part of the intense exchange of missiles on the battlefield.