Shloka 22
(धार्तराष्ट्रश्न सहिता: पञ्चालान् पाण्डवा ययु: ।। यज्ञसेनेन संगम्य कर्णदुर्योधनादय: । निर्जिता: संन्यवर्तन्त तथान्ये क्षत्रियर्षभा: ।।) ततः पाण्डुसुता: पज्च निर्जित्य द्रुपदं युधि । द्रोणाय दर्शयामासुर्बद्ध्वा ससचिवं तदा,(गुरुकी आज्ञा पाकर) धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंसहित पाण्डव पंचाल देशमें गये। वहाँ राजा ट्रुपदके साथ युद्ध होनेपर कर्ण, दुर्योधन आदि कौरव तथा दूसरे-दूसरे प्रमुख क्षत्रिय वीर परास्त होकर रणभूमिसे भाग गये। तब पाँचों पाण्डवोंने ट्रुपदको युद्धमें परास्त कर दिया और मन्त्रियों-सहित उन्हें कैद करके द्रोणके सम्मुख ला दिया
tataḥ pāṇḍusutāḥ pañca nirjitya drupadaṃ yudhi | droṇāya darśayāmāsur baddhvā sasacivaṃ tadā ||
Then the five sons of Pāṇḍu, having defeated King Drupada in battle, bound him together with his ministers and presented him before Droṇa. The episode underscores the hard edge of a disciple’s obedience to a teacher’s command, even when it entails humiliating a former friend and king, and it foreshadows how personal vows and institutional loyalties can override gentler claims of dharma.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between loyalty to one’s teacher (guru-ājñā) and broader ethical considerations: disciplined obedience can achieve a commanded goal, yet it may also inflict disproportionate humiliation and sow future enmity—showing how dharma is tested when duties conflict.
After the wider clash in Pāñcāla, the five Pāṇḍavas defeat King Drupada in combat, capture him along with his ministers, and bring him as a bound captive before their teacher Droṇa, fulfilling Droṇa’s demand connected with his grievance against Drupada.