Shloka 17
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
शरवर्ष ततस्तत् तु संनिवार्य महायशा: । दोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य मध्ये चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्,तब महायशस्वी द्रोणने उस बाण-वर्षाका निवारण करके ट्रुपदपुत्रके धनुषको बीचसे ही काट डाला
śaravarṣaṃ tatastat tu saṃnivārya mahāyaśāḥ | droṇo drupadaputrasya madhye ciccheda kārmukam ||
Sañjaya said: Then the illustrious Droṇa, having checked that shower of arrows, cut the bow of Drupada’s son right in the middle. In the moral texture of the battle, the act signals disciplined mastery—neutralizing an opponent’s aggression by disabling the weapon rather than merely trading blows—while also underscoring the relentless efficiency that war demands from even the most renowned teachers.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, excellence is shown not only by force but by control: Droṇa first restrains the incoming assault and then disables the opponent’s means (the bow). The episode highlights disciplined skill and strategic restraint—reducing harm by ending the exchange decisively rather than escalating it.
Dṛṣṭadyumna (Drupada’s son) sends a heavy volley of arrows at Droṇa. Droṇa counters the barrage and, with a precise shot, severs Dṛṣṭadyumna’s bow at its midpoint, temporarily neutralizing his ability to continue the attack.