Shloka 2

Nārāyaṇāstra-utpātaḥ — Aśvatthāman’s Rallying Roar after Droṇa’s Fall (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६७)

Devanagari script

अब्रवीत्‌ पाण्डवांश्वैव पञज्चालांश्वैव सोमकान्‌ । अभिद्रवत संयात द्रोणमेव जिघांसया,संजय कहते हैं--प्रजानाथ! जब सम्पूर्ण भूतोंका विनाश करनेवाला वह भयंकर रात्रियुद्ध आरम्भ हुआ, उस समय धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरने पाण्डवों, पांचालों और सोमकोंसे कहा --दौड़ो, द्रोणाचार्यपर ही उन्हें मार डालनेकी इच्छासे आक्रमण करो”

Transliteration

abravīt pāṇḍavāṃś caiva pañcālāṃś caiva somakān | abhidravata saṃyāta droṇam eva jighāṃsayā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O lord of men, when that dreadful night-battle—bringing destruction upon multitudes—had begun, Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira addressed the Pāṇḍavas, the Pañcālas, and the Somakas: ‘Charge forth together! Rush upon Droṇa alone, intent on slaying him.’”

Word by Word

• {'abravīt': 'he said

• spoke (aorist of √brū)', 'pāṇḍavān': 'the sons of Pāṇḍu

• the Pāṇḍava warriors (acc. pl.)', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• and also (emphatic conjunction)', 'pañcālān': 'the Pañcālas (allied people/army) (acc. pl.)', 'somakān': 'the Somakas (a Yādava-related clan

• allies of the Pāṇḍavas) (acc. pl.)', 'abhidravata': 'run toward

• rush upon (imperative, 2nd pl.)', 'saṃyāta': 'having come together

• united in action (from saṃ-√yā)', 'droṇam eva': 'Droṇa alone

• Droṇa in particular (acc. sg. with emphasis)', 'jighāṃsayā': 'with the desire/intention to kill (instrumental of purpose from desiderative of √han)'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra)
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pañcālas
• Somakas
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• night-battle (rātri-yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of war-leadership: even a dharma-minded king like Yudhiṣṭhira issues a direct command to kill a revered teacher (Droṇa) when the survival of his side and the course of the battle demand decisive action. It frames strategy and necessity as forces that pressure dharma, especially amid the chaos of night fighting.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the terrifying night-battle begins, Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the allied forces—Pāṇḍavas, Pañcālas, and Somakas—urging them to unite and charge directly at Droṇa with the intent to kill him, indicating a focused tactical objective amid the broader melee.