Shloka 123

Aśvatthāmā’s Lamentation, Vow of Retaliation, and the Manifestation of the Nārāyaṇāstra (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६६)

Devanagari script

द्रोणं च के व्यरक्षन्त प्रविष्टे श्वेतवाहने । समरांगणमें शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले कौन-कौन-से योद्धा वीर अर्जुनका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े। श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनके कौरव-सेनाके भीतर घुस आनेपर किन लोगोंने द्रोणाचार्यकी रक्षा की

Transliteration

droṇaṁ ca ke vyarakṣanta praviṣṭe śvetavāhane |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “When Arjuna—he whose chariot is drawn by white horses—had penetrated deep into the Kaurava host, which warriors stepped forward to confront him, the subduer of foes? And who, at that moment, stood as the protectors of Droṇācārya?”

Word by Word

• द्रोणम्: Drona (as object: Drona)
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• के: who (which persons)
• के: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यरक्षन्त: protected
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रविष्टे: when (he/it) had entered
• प्रविष्टे: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• श्वेतवाहने: in/when the white-steeded one (Arjuna) (had entered)
• श्वेतवाहने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेतवाहन
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Arjuna (Śvetavāhana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-duty in war: leadership must be protected, and challengers must be met. It frames ethical tension between loyalty to one’s commander (guarding Droṇa) and the opposing side’s resolve (Arjuna pressing through the host), showing how dharma in battle often appears as competing obligations.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya asks (and prepares to narrate) which Kaurava warriors advanced to face Arjuna after he broke into their formation, and which fighters formed Droṇa’s protective screen at that critical moment.