Shloka 10
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
विकृष्य च धनुश्चित्रमाकर्णात् परवीरहा । द्रोणस्यान्तकरं घोरं व्यसूजत् सायकं ततः,फिर शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले उस पांचाल वीरने उस विचित्र धनुषको कानोंतक खींचकर उसके द्वारा द्रोणाचार्यका अन्त करनेमें समर्थ एक भयंकर बाण छोड़ा
vikṛṣya ca dhanuś citram ākarṇāt paravīrahā | droṇasyāntakaraṃ ghoraṃ vyasūjat sāyakaṃ tataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then that slayer of enemy-heroes drew his wondrous bow back to the ear and released a dreadful arrow—one capable of bringing about Droṇa’s end. In the grim logic of war, the act is presented as a decisive strike against a formidable teacher-warrior, raising the ethical tension between battlefield necessity and the tragic fall of a revered elder.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension: even when a warrior’s action is tactically justified in war, the targeting of a revered elder like Droṇa underscores the tragedy of dharma under strain—victory pursued through lethal necessity can still carry moral and emotional cost.
Sañjaya describes a warrior (identified by epithet as a killer of enemy champions) fully drawing a remarkable bow and shooting a terrifying arrow described as capable of ending Droṇa—signaling an imminent, decisive attack against Droṇācārya.