Shloka 463
युधिष्ठिरस्य कृष्णार्जुनादि-समाश्वासनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira’s reassurance and praise of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki
कर्तव्यं नाभ्यजानन् वै कुमारा राजसत्तम | तब द्रोणाचार्यने उनके ऊपर बाणोंका जाल-सा बिछा दिया। नृपश्रेष्ठ! द्रोणाचार्यके कानतक खींचकर छोड़े हुए उन बाणोंद्वारा घायल होकर वे राजकुमार यह भी न जान सके कि हमें क्या करना चाहिये?
kartavyaṁ nābhyajānann vai kumārā rājasattama | tadā droṇācāryeṇa teṣām upari bāṇānāṁ jālaṁ iva vitatam | nṛpaśreṣṭha! droṇācāryasya karṇāntaṁ kṛṣṭvā muktaiḥ bāṇaiḥ kṣatāḥ te rājakumārā idaṁ api na jñātuṁ śekuḥ—kiṁ no kartavyam iti ||
Sanjaya said: O best of kings, those young princes, not discerning what duty required of them, were struck and bewildered. Then Drona, drawing his bow to the ear and releasing his arrows, spread over them what seemed like a net of shafts. Wounded by those keen flights, the princes could not even decide what they ought to do—so overpowering was the force of the teacher’s assault and the confusion it produced in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war, merely possessing status or courage is insufficient; one must retain discernment of kartavya (right action). Overwhelming force and fear can cloud judgment, so dharma requires steadiness of mind and clarity about one’s role even amid chaos.
Sanjaya describes Drona’s fierce attack: drawing his bowstring to the ear, he releases a dense volley that falls like a net over the princes. Struck and wounded, they become disoriented and cannot decide their next move.