Shloka 246
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
पाज्चाल्यप्रग्रहो द्रोणं सर्वतः समवारयत् । भाइयोंसहित धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने अपनी सारी सेनाके साथ जाकर धृष्टद्युम्नरूपी डोरीकी सहायतासे द्रोणाचार्यको घेर तो नहीं लिया था?
pāñcālya-pragraho droṇaṃ sarvataḥ samavārayat |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Les troupes des Pāñcāla n’encerclèrent-elles pas Droṇa de toutes parts, lorsque Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, avec ses frères et l’armée entière, s’avança et, avec l’aide de Dhṛṣṭadyumna comme d’un lien de contrainte, referma l’étau sur Droṇācārya ?»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of dharma in war: reverence for a teacher does not automatically override one’s duty to protect one’s side and pursue a just objective. It also shows how leadership (Yudhiṣṭhira) must sometimes authorize harsh necessities while remaining conscious of their moral weight.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya whether the Pāṇḍava-aligned Pāñcāla troops, led in effect by Yudhiṣṭhira and aided by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, managed to surround Droṇa from all directions—suggesting a coordinated attempt to contain or capture/kill the formidable Kaurava commander.