Shloka 53
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
तथा पर्यचरद् द्रोण: पाण्डवानां बले बली | अलातचक्रवद् राज॑स्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्,राजन! बलवान द्रोणाचार्य पाण्डवोंकी सेनामें अलातचक्रकी भाँति चारों ओर चक्कर लगाने लगे। यह एक 5 बात हुई
tathā paryacarad droṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ bale balī | alātacakravad rājan tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Sañjaya said: Thus the mighty Droṇa moved about within the Pāṇḍavas’ army, O King, circling like a whirling firebrand; it appeared truly wondrous. The image underscores both his martial mastery and the terrifying, almost mesmerizing momentum of violence on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and power can appear ‘wondrous’ even when deployed in destructive ends. Ethically, it invites reflection on the ambiguity of admiration in war: martial brilliance can mesmerize, yet it intensifies suffering, reminding readers to distinguish technical excellence from moral rightness.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa penetrating and moving through the Pāṇḍava forces, circling rapidly and striking in a way compared to a whirled firebrand that looks like a wheel of fire. The simile conveys speed, encirclement, and the disorienting effect of his attacks on the battlefield.