Mahabharata 7.31.8 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 31, Shloka 8
अध्याय ३१ — द्रोणानीके तुमुलसंग्रामः
The Tumultuous Battle around Droṇa’s Formation
यं यं प्रमथते द्रोण: पञ्चालानां रथव्रजम् | तत्र तत्र तु पाज्चाल्यो धृष्टद्युम्नो5भ्यवर्तत
sañjaya uvāca | yaṃ yaṃ pramathate droṇaḥ pañcālānāṃ rathavrajam | tatra tatra tu pāñcālyo dhṛṣṭadyumno 'bhyavartata ||
Sañjaya dijo: Allí donde Droṇa intentaba aplastar las formaciones de carros reunidas de los Pāñcālas, allí mismo el príncipe pāñcāla Dhṛṣṭadyumna avanzaba una y otra vez para hacerle frente. La escena destaca el incesante contrapeso de fuerza con fuerza: cada embate respondido por una resistencia deliberada, en medio de los sombríos deberes y rivalidades del campo de batalla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores steadfastness and responsibility in conflict: when a powerful aggressor presses an attack, a leader must respond promptly to protect his forces. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—meeting challenge directly—while also showing how war compels repeated cycles of escalation and counter-escalation.
Droṇa repeatedly attacks and tries to break the Pāñcāla chariot-groups. Each time, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāñcāla prince and commander, advances to meet Droṇa, positioning himself wherever the pressure is greatest.
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