Shloka 6
Ghaṭotkaca Slays Alāyudha (Night Battle and Māyā Countermeasures) / घटोत्कचेन अलायुधवधः
आपके पुत्रका पूर्वोक्त वचन सुनकर द्रोणाचार्य मन-ही-मन दुःखी हो उठे। उन्होंने दो घड़ीतक कुछ सोच-विचारकर अत्यन्त आर्तभावसे इस प्रकार कहा ।। द्रोण उदाच दुर्योधन किमेवं मां वाकृुशरैरपि कृन्तसि । अजय्यं सततं संख्ये ब्रुवाणं सव्यसाचिनम्,द्रोणाचार्य बोले--दुर्योधन! तुम क्यों इस प्रकार अपने वचनरूपी बाणोंसे मुझे छेद रहे हो? मैं तो सदासे ही कहता आया हूँ कि सव्यसाची अर्जुन युद्धमें अजेय हैं
sañjaya uvāca | tava putrasya pūrvoktaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā droṇācāryo manasā duḥkhito 'bhavat | sa muhūrtadvayaṃ kiñcid vicārya paramārtabhāvenaivam uvāca || droṇa uvāca | duryodhana kim evaṃ māṃ vāg-śaraiḥ api kṛntasi | ajayyaṃ satataṃ saṅkhye bruvāṇaṃ savyasācinam ||
Sanjaya said: Hearing the earlier words spoken by your son, Drona was stricken with grief within. After reflecting for a short while, he spoke in deep anguish. Drona said: “Duryodhana, why do you wound me like this with arrows made of words? I have always maintained that Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer, is unconquerable in battle.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Harsh, accusatory speech can wound as deeply as weapons; ethical leadership requires restraint in words and honesty about reality. Drona insists on truthfully assessing Arjuna’s prowess rather than flattering Duryodhana’s expectations.
After hearing Duryodhana’s earlier remarks, Drona becomes inwardly pained, pauses to reflect, and then responds emotionally. He reproaches Duryodhana for ‘cutting’ him with words and reiterates his long-held view that Arjuna is unconquerable in battle.