Shloka 26
Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)
स मध्यं प्राप्य सैन्यानां सर्वाः प्रविचरन् दिश: । तव सैन्यस्य गोप्ता5डसीद् भारद्वाजो द्विजर्षभ:,राजन! भरद्वाजनन्दन विप्रवर द्रोणाचार्य आपकी सेनाके संरक्षक थे। वे पाण्डव- सेनाके बीचमें घुसकर सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें विचरने लगे
sa madhyaṁ prāpya sainyānāṁ sarvāḥ pravicaran diśaḥ | tava sainyasya goptā āsīd bhāradvājo dvijarṣabhaḥ ||
Setelah menerobos ke tengah-tengah bala tentara, ia bergerak ke segala penjuru. Wahai Raja, Droṇācārya—putra Bharadvāja, yang terbaik di antara para brahmana—adalah pelindung pasukanmu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the wartime ideal of guardianship and duty: a commander must actively protect his side, even by entering danger and moving decisively through confusion. It frames Droṇa’s role as goptā—one who bears responsibility for the safety and success of the host entrusted to him.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa has pushed into the center of the opposing forces and is ranging in all directions on the battlefield. He emphasizes that Droṇa, the Bharadvāja-born Brahmin-warrior, is acting as the chief protector of the Kaurava army while operating amid the Pāṇḍava troops.