Shloka 51
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
वार्थक्षेमिं तु वा्ष्णेयं कृप: शारद्वत: शरै: । अक्षुद्र: क्षुद्रकैदोणात् क्रुद्धसबज-्पजमवारयत्,शरद्वानके पुत्र श्रेष्ठ कृपाचार्यने क्रोधमें भरे हुए वृष्णिवंशी वार्थक्षेमिको अपने बाणोंद्वारा द्रोणाचार्यके पास आनेसे रोका
vārthakṣemiṁ tu vārṣṇeyaṁ kṛpaḥ śāradvataḥ śaraiḥ | akṣudraḥ kṣudrakair droṇāt kruddhaḥ saṁyugam āvārayat ||
Sañjaya said: Then Kṛpa Śāradvata—undaunted and resolute—checked Vārthakṣemi of the Vṛṣṇi line with a shower of arrows. In wrath amid the clash of arms, he prevented him from reaching Droṇa, showing how, in war, disciplined force is used to block an opponent’s purpose even when anger surges within.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the heat of battle, effectiveness is tied to disciplined action: Kṛpa’s ‘not petty’ steadiness contrasts with his anger, implying that righteous warfare demands control, tactical clarity, and purposeful restraint rather than reckless rage.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛpa Śāradvata, fighting for the Kauravas, shoots arrows to block the Vṛṣṇi warrior Vārthakṣemi and prevents him from advancing toward Droṇācārya.