Shloka 39
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
पाज्चाल्यमथ संत्यज्य द्रोणो5पि रथिनां वर: । विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धौ वारयामास संयुगे,तब रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्य भी धृष्टद्युम्नको छोड़कर युद्धस्थलमें विराट और ट्रुपद इन दोनों वृद्ध नरेशोंको आगे बढ़नेसे रोकने लगे
Pāñcālyam atha saṁtyajya Droṇo 'pi rathināṁ varaḥ | Virāṭa-Drupadau vṛddhau vārayāmāsa saṁyuge ||
Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa too—foremost among chariot-warriors—leaving aside the Pāñcāla prince (Dhṛṣṭadyumna), began to check in battle the two aged kings, Virāṭa and Drupada, preventing their advance. The scene underscores Droṇa’s tactical choice: rather than pursue a single rival, he restrains senior allies of the Pāṇḍavas, curbing their momentum on the field.
संजय उवाच