Mahabharata 7.90.10 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 90, Shloka 10
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय ९०: हार्दिक्यस्य पराक्रमः
Kṛtavarmā’s Stand against the Pāṇḍavas
अध्यर्धमात्रे धनुषां सहस्रे तनयस्तव । अग्रतः सर्वसैन्यानां स्थित्वा दुर्मर्षणो5ब्रवीत्
sañjaya uvāca |
adhyardhamātre dhanuṣāṁ sahasre tanayas tava |
agratḥ sarvasainyānāṁ sthitvā durmarṣaṇo 'bravīt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu putramu Durmarṣaṇa berdiri di depan seluruh pasukan Kaurava, pada jarak kira-kira seribu lima ratus panjang busur dari Arjuna, dan berbicara.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of taking the forefront in conflict: a leader publicly assumes position and speaks first, embodying responsibility and resolve before the assembled troops. It also reflects the epic’s ethical tension—valor and duty are displayed even within a destructive war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Durmarṣaṇa moves ahead of the Kaurava forces, takes a forward position at a stated distance measured in bow-lengths, and begins to address the situation—setting up a direct confrontation with the opposing side (notably Arjuna in the surrounding context).
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