Shloka 2
Droṇa-pātana-paripṛcchā (Inquiry into the Fall of Droṇa) | द्रोणपातनपरिपृच्छा
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा धृष्टद्युम्नधनंजयौ । अब्रवीत् सर्वतो यत्तै: कुम्भयोनिर्निवार्यताम्,तब राजा युधिष्ठिरने धृष्टद्युम्म और अर्जुनसे कहा--“वीरो! मेरे सैनिकोंको सब ओरसे प्रयत्नशील होकर द्रोणाचार्यको रोकना चाहिये”
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dhṛṣṭadyumnadhanañjayau | abravīt sarvato yatnaiḥ kumbhayonir nivāryatām ||
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira addressed Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna): “With effort on every side, Drona—the son of the pot-born sage—must be checked.” In the moral pressure of battle, the king urges coordinated restraint of a formidable teacher-warrior, seeking to protect his forces while confronting the hard necessity of opposing one who is revered yet deadly in war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in righteous warfare, leadership demands coordinated action to contain overwhelming harm. The verse highlights the ethical tension of resisting a revered teacher (Droṇa) while prioritizing protection of one’s army and fulfilling one’s duty in battle.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira instructs the Pāṇḍava commanders Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Arjuna to make concerted efforts on all fronts to restrain Droṇa, whose prowess is threatening the Pāṇḍava forces.