Shloka 18
भीमसेनवच: श्रुत्वा द्रोणस्तत् परमाप्रियम् । मनसा सन्नगात्रो$भूदू यथा सैकतमम्भसि
bhīmasenavacaḥ śrutvā droṇas tat paramāpriyam | manasā sannagātro 'bhūd yathā saikatam ambhasi ||
Sañjaya said: Hearing Bhīmasena’s words—utterly unwelcome to him—Droṇa became inwardly shaken; his limbs seemed to sink and lose strength, like sand collapsing in water. The verse highlights how harsh speech and grievous news can unseat even a great warrior-teacher, revealing the moral weight of words amid the violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and psychological force of speech: words can wound, destabilize, and morally burden even the mighty. In war, victory is not only physical; it also turns on mental resilience, and harsh or grievous utterances can break resolve.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa’s immediate inner collapse upon hearing Bhīma’s extremely unwelcome statement. Droṇa’s body slackens from mental shock, compared to sand dissolving or sinking in water—an image of sudden loss of firmness and composure.