Shloka 15
उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations
सहिता: संन्यवर्तन्त द्रोणमेव द्विजर्षभम् । इसी प्रकार पाण्डव-सेनाके अन्य महारथी वीर पुरुषसिंह भी एक साथ द्विजदश्रेष्ठ ट्रोणाचार्ुकी ओर ही लौट आये ।। १४ $ ।। तेषु शूरेषु युद्धाय गतेषु भरतर्षभ
sahitāḥ saṃnyavartanta droṇam eva dvijarṣabham | teṣu śūreṣu yuddhāya gateṣu bharatarṣabha
Sañjaya said: United together, they turned back—toward Droṇa alone, the bull among Brahmins. And when those heroes had gone forth for battle, O best of the Bharatas, the course of events moved into a decisive confrontation centered on Droṇa, whose presence drew the foremost warriors back to him as to the pivotal force of the day.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a single pivotal leader can become the focal point of an entire battle: the foremost warriors reorient their movement and intent around Droṇa. Ethically, it underscores the gravity of martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) when directed toward a central, formidable opponent, and how collective resolve forms around decisive targets in war.
Sañjaya reports that the warriors, acting together, turn back toward Droṇa, described as the foremost among the twice-born. The second half sets the scene: as those heroes proceed to fight, the narrative transitions into a battle phase in which Droṇa becomes the central figure drawing the engagement.