Shloka 12
Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ
Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors
भीम॑ तु समरे द्रोणो वारयित्वा शरोरमिभि: | अकरोत् सहसा नादं पाण्डूनां भयमादधत्,उस समरांगणमें अपने बाणरूपी तरंगोंसे भीमसेनको रोककर आचार्य द्रोणने पाण्डवोंके मनमें भय उत्पन्न करते हुए सहसा सिंहनाद किया
bhīmaṁ tu samare droṇo vārayitvā śarormi-bhiḥ | akarot sahasā nādaṁ pāṇḍūnāṁ bhayam ādadat ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Droṇa checked Bhīma with waves of arrows; then, to strike fear into the hearts of the Pāṇḍavas, the preceptor suddenly let out a lion-like roar. The scene underscores how psychological force—terror, intimidation, and the display of mastery—operates alongside physical prowess in war, raising the ethical tension between righteous combat and fear-driven domination.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that warfare is not only a contest of weapons but also of morale: a commander’s display of mastery and intimidation can destabilize opponents. Ethically, it invites reflection on how fear is deliberately manufactured in war and how dharma must contend with both physical violence and psychological coercion.
Droṇa, in the midst of battle, halts Bhīma’s advance by showering him with repeated volleys of arrows. Immediately afterward, Droṇa emits a sudden, lion-like roar intended to frighten the Pāṇḍava forces and assert dominance on the battlefield.