Shloka 1
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
अपन का छा | अकाल सप्तमो<्ध्याय: द्रोणाचार्यका सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषेक, कौरव-पाण्डव- सेनाओंका युद्ध और द्रोणका पराक्रम द्रोण उदाच वेदं षडड़ृ वेदाहमर्थविद्यां च मानवीम् । त्रैय्यम्बकमथेष्वस्त्रं शस्त्राणि विविधानि च,द्रोणाचार्यने कहा--राजन्! मैं छहों अंगोंसहित वेद, मनुजीका कहा हुआ अर्थशास्त्र, भगवान् शंकरकी दी हुई बाण-विद्या और अनेक प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र भी जानता हूँ
droṇa uvāca | vedaṃ ṣaḍ-aṅgaṃ vedāham artha-vidyāṃ ca mānavīm | traiyambakam atho ’ṣv-astraṃ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca ||
Droṇa said: “O King, I know the Veda together with its six auxiliaries, and also the science of polity and governance taught by Manu. I also know the missile-weapon lore granted by Tryambaka (Śiva), and many kinds of weapons and arms.” In the ethical frame of the war, Droṇa asserts comprehensive learning—scriptural, political, and martial—foreshadowing how knowledge and power will be deployed on the battlefield, raising the tension between righteous duty and destructive expertise.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the breadth of Droṇa’s mastery—scriptural learning (Veda with Vedāṅgas), political wisdom (artha-vidyā in Manu’s tradition), and martial science (astra-śastra). It implicitly raises an ethical question central to the epic: profound knowledge can serve dharma or intensify destruction, depending on intent and allegiance.
At the opening of this chapter in Droṇa Parva, Droṇa speaks to the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, via Sañjaya’s narration) asserting his qualifications and prowess. This functions as a prelude to his leadership in battle and the display of his formidable power once he is placed at the head of the Kaurava forces.