Shloka 10
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
दयित: फाल्गुनो नित्यमाचार्यस्य महात्मन: । ततोअस्य दत्तवान् द्वारमयुद्धेनैव शत्रुहन्,'शत्रुसूदन! किंतु अर्जुन तो महात्मा आचार्य द्रोणको सदा ही परम प्रिय हैं। इसीलिये उन्होंने युद्ध किये बिना ही उन्हें व्यूहमें घुसनेका मार्ग दे दिया
dayitaḥ phālguno nityam ācāryasya mahātmanaḥ | tato ’sya dattavān dvāram ayuddhenaiva śatruhan ||
Sanjaya said: “Phalguna (Arjuna) was always dear to the noble preceptor. Therefore, O slayer of foes, he granted him an entry into the battle-formation without even fighting.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how personal affection and prior bonds (teacher–disciple attachment) can shape conduct even in war, raising an ethical tension between impartial duty and human partiality.
Sanjaya explains that because Drona held Arjuna especially dear, he allowed Arjuna a passage into the enemy formation without engaging him in combat.