Shloka 33
द्रोणेन केकय-चेदि-वीरवधः
Droṇa’s engagements with the Kekayas and Cedis
त॑ दृष्टवा कुरवस्त्रस्ता: प्रह्ष्टा श्षाभवन् पुन: । अभ्यवर्तन्त पार्थ च समन्ताद् भरचर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! उन्हें देखकर कौरव-सैनिक पहले तो भयभीत हुए। फिर प्रसन्न भी हो गये। वे चारों ओरसे कुन्तीकुमारका सामना करनेके लिये डट गये
taṁ dṛṣṭvā kuravas trastāḥ prahṛṣṭāś cābhavan punaḥ | abhyavartanta pārthaṁ ca samantād bharatarṣabha ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing him, the Kauravas were at first struck with fear; then, regaining confidence and exhilaration, they surged back and closed in on Pārtha from every side, O bull among the Bharatas. The verse highlights the quick reversals of morale in war—fear giving way to collective resolve—and the ethical tension of many surrounding one heroic opponent.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how quickly the mind shifts in crisis: fear can turn into renewed zeal when a group regains confidence. Ethically, it also points to the pressure of collective force against a single hero, raising the recurring Mahābhārata question of what constitutes fair conduct amid the necessities of war.
After seeing Arjuna (Pārtha), the Kaurava fighters initially panic, then become encouraged and rally. They move in again and surround him from every direction, preparing to confront him in battle.