Shloka 28
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
केक्यैश्रेदिकारूषैर्मस्स्यैरन्यैश्व भूमिपै: । व्याकुलीकृतमाचार्य पिपीलैरुरगं यथा
kekyaiś cedikārūṣair matsyair anyaiś ca bhūmipaiḥ | vyākulīkṛtam ācārya pipīlair uragaṃ yathā ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dit : «Ô Ācārya ! Les Kékayas, les Cedis, les Kāruṣas, les Matsyas et d’autres rois t’ont jeté dans le tumulte, comme un serpent harcelé et agité lorsqu’un essaim de fourmis l’envahit.»
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how even a great teacher-warrior can be destabilized when many opponents coordinate their pressure. Ethically, it points to the reality that power and skill must be supported by composure and strategic support; otherwise, collective force can overwhelm an individual, however formidable.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes to Droṇa that multiple allied kings—Kekayas, Cedis, Kāruṣas, Matsyas, and others—have surrounded and harassed him in battle, likening Droṇa’s predicament to a serpent agitated by a swarm of ants.