Shloka 1
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय 128: दुर्योधनस्य परसेनाप्रवेशः
Duryodhana’s Incursion and the Tumult of Battle
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका $ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ७८ ३ “लोक हैं।) शीस््नश्शा >> | भ्निध्र्राइध्य षड्विशरत्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरका चिन्तित होकर भीमसेनको अर्जुन और सात्यकिका पता लगानेके लिये भेजना संजय उवाच व्यूहेष्वालोड्यमानेषु पाण्डवानां ततस्तत: । सुदूरमन्वयु: पार्था: पजचाला: सह सोमकै:,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! जब द्रोणाचार्य पाण्डवोंके व्यूहोंको इस प्रकार जहाँ-तहाँसे रौंदने लगे, तब पार्थ, पांचाल तथा सोमक योद्धा उनसे बहुत दूर हट गये
sañjaya uvāca
vyūheṣv āloḍyamāneṣu pāṇḍavānāṃ tatas tataḥ |
sudūram anvayuḥ pārthāḥ pañcālāḥ saha somakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, as Droṇa kept churning and crushing through the Pāṇḍavas’ battle-formations here and there, the sons of Pṛthā—along with the Pañcālas and the Somakas—were driven to withdraw far away. The verse underscores the moral pressure of war: even righteous allies are forced into retreat when confronted by superior tactical force, and survival momentarily overrides the desire to stand firm.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, tactical dominance can compel even dharma-aligned forces to retreat; ethical intent alone does not negate the realities of strategy, strength, and the duty to preserve one’s forces for a later, more responsible stand.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa is overrunning the Pāṇḍavas’ formations in multiple places, causing the Pāṇḍavas along with their allies—the Pañcālas and Somakas—to fall back to a considerable distance.