Shloka 97
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
ब्राह्मे धनुषि चाचार्य वेदयोरन्तगं द्वयो: । युधि धुर्यमविक्षो भ्यमनीकचरमच्युतम्
brāhme dhanuṣi cācārya vedayor antagaṃ dvayoḥ | yudhi dhuryam avikṣobhyaṃ anīkacaram acyutam ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai putra Kunti! Guru Drona telah mencapai puncak penguasaan dalam brahma-vidyā dan ilmu memanah (dhanurveda). Di medan perang ia pemikul beban utama, tak tergoyahkan, bergerak di tengah barisan, dan tak pernah mundur dari gelanggang. Keinginanmu menaklukkan Drona yang bercahaya itu hanyalah keberanian semu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses sober assessment of true capability and the ethical weight of confronting a master: Droṇa embodies consummate knowledge and battlefield steadiness, so mere desire to defeat him without adequate means is portrayed as empty bravado.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa’s unmatched expertise in both sacred and martial disciplines and warns a son of Kuntī that attempting to conquer Droṇa is as impossible as the wind uprooting Mount Sumeru, emphasizing Droṇa’s perceived invincibility and unwavering presence in the battle ranks.