Shloka 13
अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna
संजय उवाच रात्रियुद्धे तदा राजन् वर्तमाने सुदारुणे | द्रोणमभ्यद्रवन् सर्वे पाण्डवा: सह सोमकै:,संजयने कहा--राजन्! जब वह अत्यन्त दारुण रात्रियुद्ध चलने लगा, उस समय सोमकोंसहित समस्त पाण्डवोंने द्रोणाचार्यपर धावा किया
sañjaya uvāca | rātriyuddhe tadā rājan vartamāne sudāruṇe | droṇam abhyadravan sarve pāṇḍavāḥ saha somakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, when that exceedingly dreadful night-battle was underway, all the Pāṇḍavas, together with the Somakas, surged forward and charged at Droṇācārya. In the darkness and confusion of nocturnal warfare, the struggle intensifies, and the warriors’ resolve is tested against the demands of duty and the brutal necessities of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma is tested under extreme conditions: even in a terrifying night-battle, warriors act according to alliance, duty, and strategic necessity. It underscores the ethical tension between righteous aims and the harsh means of war.
As the night fighting becomes intensely brutal, Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas, supported by the Somakas, collectively launch an assault on Droṇa, making him the immediate focus of their attack.