Shloka 19
जयद्रथवधः — The Slaying of Jayadratha
Sunset Vow and Curse-Condition
द्रोणो वा रथिनां श्रेष्ठ: कृपो मद्रेश्वरो 5पि वा । तथापि सम्भ्रमो न स्यात् त्वामाश्रित्य महाभुज,महाबाहो! रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्य, कृपाचार्य अथवा मद्रराज शल्य ही क्यों न खड़े हों, तथापि आपके आश्रित रहकर मुझे कदापि भय नहीं हो सकता
droṇo vā rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kṛpo madreśvaro 'pi vā | tathāpi sambhramo na syāt tvām āśritya mahābhuja ||
Even if Droṇa—the foremost among chariot-warriors—were to stand against us, or Kṛpa, or even Śalya, the king of Madra, still no panic should arise. Relying on you, O mighty-armed one, fear cannot take hold of me. The speaker frames courage not as denial of danger but as steadiness born from trust in a protector’s strength amid the moral strain of war.
सूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadiness in crisis: even when formidable opponents stand ahead, one should not succumb to panic if one has taken refuge in a capable leader. The verse highlights disciplined courage—fear is restrained through trust, resolve, and clear dependence on strength and protection.
The sūta narrates a moment of battlefield appraisal: the speaker names terrifying champions (Droṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya) yet asserts that, with the addressed mighty warrior as support, there is no cause for alarm. It underscores morale-building and confidence before or during a confrontation.