Shloka 18
अध्याय ३१ — द्रोणानीके तुमुलसंग्रामः
The Tumultuous Battle around Droṇa’s Formation
तदद्भुतम भूद् युद्ध द्रोणपाउचालयोस्तथा । नैव तस्योपमा काचिदिति मे निश्चिता मति:,वहाँ द्रोणाचार्य और धृष्टद्युम्नमें अद्भुत युद्ध होने लगा, जिसकी कहीं कोई तुलना नहीं थी, यह मेरा निश्चित मत है
tad adbhutam abhūd yuddhaṃ droṇapāñcālayos tathā | naiva tasyopamā kācid iti me niścitā matiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then there arose a truly wondrous battle between Droṇa and the Pāñcāla warrior; in my settled judgment, there was no comparison anywhere for that combat. The encounter is presented as extraordinary not merely for its ferocity, but for the moral tension of a teacher facing the very force destined to oppose him.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the awe-inspiring intensity of dharma-bound warfare while underscoring ethical strain: a revered teacher (Droṇa) is locked in incomparable combat with the opposing force (the Pāñcāla champion), reminding the listener that greatness in battle can coexist with profound moral complexity.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that an extraordinary duel has begun between Droṇa and the Pāñcāla warrior (understood in context as Dhṛṣṭadyumna). He emphasizes that the fight is unparalleled, marking a climactic moment within the day’s fierce engagements.