Shloka 35
Śaineya–Bhūriśravas: Genealogy, Svayaṃvara Contest, and the Maheśvara Boon
पाण्डुपाज्चालसम्भिन्न॑ व्यूहमालोक्य वीर्यवान् । शैनेये नाकरोद्ू यत्नं व्यूहमेवा भ्यरक्षत,पराक्रमी द्रोणने अपने व्यूहको पाण्डवों और पांचालोंद्वारा भंग हुआ देख सात्यकिको रोकनेका प्रयत्न छोड़ दिया। वे पुनः व्यूहकी ही रक्षा करने लगे
pāṇḍupāñcālasambhinnaṁ vyūham ālokya vīryavān | śaineye nākarod yatnaṁ vyūham evābhyarakṣata ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing his battle-formation shattered by the Pāṇḍavas and the Pāñcālas, the mighty warrior (Droṇa) no longer strove to check Śaineya (Sātyaki). Instead, he turned his effort to safeguarding the formation itself—choosing the preservation of the army’s order over pursuing a single opponent amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a collapsing situation, a leader must prioritize the greater responsibility—protecting the collective structure (the army’s formation) over personal rivalry with a single foe. The verse highlights strategic dharma: choosing what preserves the larger order when circumstances change.
Droṇa sees his formation breached by the combined Pāṇḍava–Pāñcāla forces. Because the array is breaking, he stops trying to restrain Sātyaki (Śaineya) and instead focuses on defending and restoring the vyūha.