Shloka 69
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
केशवेन हते संख्ये पितर्यथ नराधिपे । भिन्ने कपाटे पाण्ड्यानां विद्रुतेषु च बन्धुषु,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके हाथोंसे जब युद्धमें पाण्ड्यदेशके राजा तथा वर्तमान नरेशके पिता मारे गये, पाण्ड्यराजधानीका फाटक तोड़-फोड़ दिया गया और सारे बन्धु-बान्धव भाग गये, उस समय जिसने भीष्म, द्रोण, परशुराम तथा कृपाचार्यसे अस्त्रविद्या सीखकर उसमें रुकमी, कर्ण, अर्जुन और श्रीकृष्णकी समानता प्राप्त कर ली; फिर द्वारकाको नष्ट करने और सारी पृथ्वीपर विजय पानेका संकल्प किया; यह देख विद्वान् सुहृदोंने हितकी कामना रखकर जिसे वैसा दुःसाहस करनेसे रोक दिया और अब जो वैरभाव छोड़कर अपने राज्यका शासन कर रहा है और जिसके रथपर सागरके चिह्नसे युक्त ध्वजा फहराती है, पराक्रमरूपी धनका आश्रय लेनेवाले उस बलवान राजा पाण्ड्यने अपने दिव्य धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए वैदूर्यमणिकी जालीसे आच्छादित तथा चन्द्रकिरणोंके समान श्वेत घोड़ोंद्वारा द्रोणाचार्यपर धावा किया
sañjaya uvāca | keśavena hate saṅkhye pitary atha narādhipe | bhinne kapāṭe pāṇḍyānāṃ vidruteṣu ca bandhuṣu ||
Sañjaya said: When Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) had slain in battle the Pāṇḍya king—who was also the father of the reigning ruler—and when the gates of the Pāṇḍya stronghold had been shattered and their kinsmen had fled in panic, the Pāṇḍya ruler (later restrained by wise well-wishers from reckless vows of vengeance and conquest) now, having set aside hostility and governing his kingdom, advanced against Droṇa. With the twang of his divine bow, and with a chariot bearing a sea-emblem on its banner, covered with a lattice of vaidūrya-gems and drawn by moon-white horses, he charged the preceptor—his valor presented as disciplined power rather than blind rage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical pivot from impulsive vengeance to disciplined kingship: wise well-wishers restrain reckless, world-consuming vows, and the ruler is shown returning to governance and measured action. Valor is praised when guided by counsel and responsibility rather than rage.
Sañjaya recounts a background episode: after Kṛṣṇa slew the earlier Pāṇḍya king and the Pāṇḍya stronghold was breached, the new Pāṇḍya ruler—once tempted toward extreme retaliation—now rules calmly and rides out in splendor to attack Droṇa on the battlefield, sounding his divine bow.