Shloka 61
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अथान्तरिक्षे नादो<भूद् द्रोणं तत्र प्रशंसताम् दुष्करं कृतवान् द्रोणो यदर्जुनमयोधयत्
athāntarikṣe nādo 'bhūd droṇaṃ tatra praśaṃsatām | duṣkaraṃ kṛtavān droṇo yad arjunam ayodhayat ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : À cet instant, une voix retentit dans le ciel, proférée par ceux qui louaient Droṇa : « Ah ! Droṇa a accompli un exploit des plus difficiles : il est demeuré ferme au combat et a affronté Arjuna. » Cette proclamation met en lumière à la fois la puissance écrasante d’Arjuna et la constance exceptionnelle qu’il faut à un maître-guerrier tel Droṇa pour faire face à un tel ennemi sans fléchir.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical weight of steadfastness in one’s role: Droṇa’s endurance against an exceptionally powerful opponent is praised as a rare accomplishment. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that true merit in war is not mere victory, but disciplined resolve and the capacity to meet daunting duty without collapse.
As the battle context intensifies, a celestial proclamation is heard praising Droṇa for continuing to engage Arjuna in combat. The narrative uses this ‘voice in the sky’ to magnify Arjuna’s might and, by contrast, to elevate Droṇa’s valor for holding his ground against him.