Shloka 416
शक्ति कनकवैदूर्या द्रोणश्रिच्छेद सायकै: । यह देख द्रोणाचार्यने तीखे भल्लोंसे उन दसों तोमरोंको काटकर अपने बाणोंके द्वारा सुवर्ण एवं वैदूर्यमणिसे विभूषित उस शक्तिके भी टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर डाले
sañjaya uvāca | śaktiṃ kanakavaidūryāṃ droṇaś chinna-sāyakaiḥ | yad dṛṣṭvā droṇācāryaḥ tīkṣṇair bhallaiḥ tān daśa tomārān chittvā sva-bāṇaiḥ suvarṇa-vaidūrya-vibhūṣitāṃ tāṃ śaktim api khaṇḍa-khaṇḍaṃ cakāra |
Sañjaya said: The spear, adorned with gold and vaidūrya gems, was struck and cut by Droṇa’s arrows. Seeing this, Droṇācārya, with razor-sharp bhalla shafts, first severed those ten javelins, and then, with his own arrows, shattered that gem-and-gold-ornamented spear itself into many fragments. The scene underscores the ruthless precision of war: even splendid weapons and costly adornments are rendered meaningless when skill and resolve are applied to destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethic of battlefield reality: outward magnificence (gold and gems) offers no protection, and in war, trained mastery and decisive action can reduce even prized instruments of power to fragments—inviting reflection on the futility of pride in material splendor amid violence.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa, using sharp bhalla arrows, cuts down ten incoming javelins and then shatters an ornate spear (śakti) decorated with gold and vaidūrya gems, demonstrating his superior archery and control in the ongoing battle.