Shloka 35
Droṇa’s Rebuke to Duryodhana after Jayadratha’s Fall (द्रोणेन दुर्योधनं प्रति प्रत्युक्तिः)
न संदधन् विमुज्चन् वा मण्डलीकृतकार्मुक:
na sandadhan vimuñcan vā maṇḍalīkṛta-kārmukaḥ
Sañjaya dit : Il ne fixa pas sa visée et ne lâcha pas ses flèches, gardant l’arc bandé dans une posture circulaire de garde—hésitant au cœur même de la violence, comme s’il pesait le devoir de l’instant contre les conséquences du sang versé.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is not merely mechanical; the verse highlights a moment of restraint and deliberation—an ethical pause where the warrior’s readiness is tempered by judgment about timing, duty, and the gravity of taking life.
Sañjaya describes a combatant poised to shoot: the bow is held ready in a controlled, circling guard, yet the fighter neither takes clear aim nor releases an arrow, indicating hesitation or tactical restraint at a critical instant.