Shloka 2

Nārāyaṇāstra-utpātaḥ — Aśvatthāman’s Rallying Roar after Droṇa’s Fall (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६७)

Devanagari script

अब्रवीत्‌ पाण्डवांश्वैव पञज्चालांश्वैव सोमकान्‌ । अभिद्रवत संयात द्रोणमेव जिघांसया,संजय कहते हैं--प्रजानाथ! जब सम्पूर्ण भूतोंका विनाश करनेवाला वह भयंकर रात्रियुद्ध आरम्भ हुआ, उस समय धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरने पाण्डवों, पांचालों और सोमकोंसे कहा --दौड़ो, द्रोणाचार्यपर ही उन्हें मार डालनेकी इच्छासे आक्रमण करो”

Transliteration

abravīt pāṇḍavāṃś caiva pañcālāṃś caiva somakān | abhidravata saṃyāta droṇam eva jighāṃsayā ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Ô seigneur des hommes, lorsque s’engagea cette effroyable bataille nocturne—porteuse de ruine pour des multitudes—Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira s’adressa aux Pāṇḍava, aux Pañcāla et aux Somaka : “En avant, tous ensemble ! Fondez sur Droṇa, sur lui seul, avec l’intention de le tuer.”»

Word by Word

• {'abravīt': 'he said

• spoke (aorist of √brū)', 'pāṇḍavān': 'the sons of Pāṇḍu

• the Pāṇḍava warriors (acc. pl.)', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• and also (emphatic conjunction)', 'pañcālān': 'the Pañcālas (allied people/army) (acc. pl.)', 'somakān': 'the Somakas (a Yādava-related clan

• allies of the Pāṇḍavas) (acc. pl.)', 'abhidravata': 'run toward

• rush upon (imperative, 2nd pl.)', 'saṃyāta': 'having come together

• united in action (from saṃ-√yā)', 'droṇam eva': 'Droṇa alone

• Droṇa in particular (acc. sg. with emphasis)', 'jighāṃsayā': 'with the desire/intention to kill (instrumental of purpose from desiderative of √han)'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra)
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pañcālas
• Somakas
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• night-battle (rātri-yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of war-leadership: even a dharma-minded king like Yudhiṣṭhira issues a direct command to kill a revered teacher (Droṇa) when the survival of his side and the course of the battle demand decisive action. It frames strategy and necessity as forces that pressure dharma, especially amid the chaos of night fighting.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the terrifying night-battle begins, Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the allied forces—Pāṇḍavas, Pañcālas, and Somakas—urging them to unite and charge directly at Droṇa with the intent to kill him, indicating a focused tactical objective amid the broader melee.