Shloka 26
कृपोपदेशः — द्रौणेरनिद्रा च
Kṛpa’s Counsel and Drauṇi’s Sleepless Resolve
द्रोणो हतेति यद् वाच: पञ्चालानां शृणोम्यहम् | धृष्टद्युम्नमहत्वा तु नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे
droṇo hateti yad vācaḥ pañcālānāṃ śṛṇomy aham | dhṛṣṭadyumnam ahatvā tu nāhaṃ jīvitum utsahe ||
Aku mendengar orang-orang Pañcāla berseru, “Droṇa telah terbunuh.” Namun sebelum aku sendiri menewaskan Dhṛṣṭadyumna, aku tak punya hati untuk terus hidup.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of loyalty and retributive justice as understood in the epic: Kṛpa frames continued life as dishonorable unless he answers his teacher’s death by punishing the perceived principal agent, Dhṛṣṭadyumna. It also exposes the moral tension of vengeance—how grief and duty can harden into a single, consuming resolve.
After Droṇa’s death, the Pañcāla side is heard announcing it. Kṛpa, aligned with the Kauravas and devoted to Droṇa, reacts with intense resolve: he declares he cannot bear to live unless he kills Dhṛṣṭadyumna, who is held responsible for Droṇa’s slaying.