Shloka 59
युधिष्ठिरस्य कृष्णार्जुनादि-समाश्वासनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira’s reassurance and praise of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki
हर्तुमिच्छन् शिर: कायात् क्रोधसंरक्तलोचन: । प्रत्याश्वस्तस्ततो द्रोणो धनुर्गृ.द्दा महारवम्,राजन! वे क्रोधसे लाल आँखें करके द्रोणाचार्यके सिरको धड़से अलग कर देना चाहते थे। इसी समय द्रोणाचार्य होशमें आ गये और उन्होंने अपनेको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे धृष्टद्यम्मको निकट आया देख महान् टंकार करनेवाले अपने धनुषको हाथमें लेकर निकटसे वेधनेवाले बित्ते बराबर बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें घायल कर दिया
hartum icchan śiraḥ kāyāt krodha-saṃrakta-locanaḥ | pratyāśvastas tato droṇo dhanur gṛhītvā mahāravam, rājan |
Sañjaya said: Burning with anger, his eyes reddened, he wished to sever Droṇa’s head from his body. Just then Droṇa regained composure; and, O King, taking up his loud-twanging bow, he struck down the assailant who had come near with the intent to kill him—wounding him at close range with arrows shot from a short distance. The episode underscores how, amid the fury of battle, intent to kill and the recovery of self-control collide, and how mastery of arms can abruptly reverse the advantage even when one seems on the verge of being slain.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in extreme peril, the recovery of composure (presence of mind) can decisively change outcomes; unchecked anger drives one toward brutal acts, while steadiness and skill enable effective response—highlighting the tension between wrath and self-mastery within the ethics of war.
An enraged attacker attempts to cut off Droṇa’s head; at that moment Droṇa regains composure, takes up his loudly twanging bow, and wounds the approaching foe at close range with arrows, reversing the immediate threat.