Mahabharata 7.21.32 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 32
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
नागानश्वान् पदातींक्ष रथिनो गजसादिन: । रौद्रा हस्तवता मुक्ता: प्रमथ्नन्ति सम सायका:
sañjaya uvāca |
nāgān aśvān padātīṃś ca rathino gajasādinaḥ |
raudrā hastavatā muktāḥ pramathnanti sma sāyakāḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Les flèches terribles, décochées par Droṇācārya d’un geste prompt et maître, broyaient et bouleversaient les rangs — éléphants, chevaux, fantassins, guerriers de char et cavaliers d’éléphant, tous sans distinction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the morally sobering reality of war: exceptional prowess, when applied in battle, becomes a sweeping force that can devastate every class of combatant. It implicitly invites reflection on the cost of kṣatriya-duty when expressed through relentless violence.
Sañjaya describes Droṇācārya’s rapid, skillful archery. His fierce arrows are striking and breaking up the opposing formations, cutting down elephants, horses, infantry, chariot-fighters, and elephant-mounted warriors.
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