Shloka 79
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
पुरस्तात् सैन्धवानीकं द्रोणानीकं च पृष्ठत: । बहुत्वाद्धि नरव्याप्र देवेन्द्रमपि पीडयेत्,नरव्याप्र! अर्जुनके सामने सिन्धुराजकी सेना है और पीछे द्रोणाचार्यकी। इसकी संख्या इतनी अधिक है कि यह देवराज इन्द्रको भी पीड़ित कर सकती है
purastāt saindhavānīkaṃ droṇānīkaṃ ca pṛṣṭhataḥ | bahutvād dhi naravyāghra devendram api pīḍayet ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In front lies the army of the king of Sindhu, and behind is the army of Droṇa. O tiger among men, by sheer multitude it could harass even Indra, the lord of the gods.”
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights sober assessment in leadership: even a righteous cause requires clear-eyed recognition of danger and the ethical responsibility to protect one’s warriors through prudent strategy rather than mere bravado.
Yudhiṣṭhira describes a tactical predicament: the Sindhu-king’s forces stand in front while Droṇa’s forces press from behind, forming a crushing pressure by their overwhelming numbers—so great that it is likened to troubling even Indra.