Shloka 44
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
पराक्रमेद् यथाशक्त्या तच्च तस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठितम् । संजय! बड़े भारी संकटमें पड़नेपर श्रेष्ठ पुरुषको यही करना चाहिये कि वह यथाशक्ति पराक्रम दिखावे; यह बात द्रोणाचार्यमें पूर्णरूपसे प्रतिष्ठित थी ।। ४३ $ ।। मुहाते मे मनस्तात कथा तावन्निवार्यताम् । भूयस्तु लब्धसंज्ञस्त्वां परिपृच्छामि संजय,तात! इस समय मेरा मन मोहित हो रहा है; अतः तुम यह कथा बंद करो! संजय! फिर होशमें आनेपर तुमसे यह समाचार पूछूँगा
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
parākramed yathāśaktyā tac ca tasmin pratiṣṭhitam |
muḍhā me manas tāta kathā tāvan nivāryatām |
bhūyas tu labdha-saṃjñas tvāṃ paripṛcchāmi sañjaya ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “In a great crisis, a noble man should display valor to the best of his ability; and this principle was firmly embodied in Droṇa. But now, dear one, my mind is overwhelmed—stop this account for the moment. When I regain composure, Sañjaya, I will question you again about these events.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
In extreme danger, the ideal person should act with courage and effort proportionate to their capacity (yathā-śakti). The verse presents this as a settled ethical norm and notes that Droṇa exemplified it.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing Sañjaya’s report of the battle, becomes mentally overwhelmed. He asks Sañjaya to pause the narration and says he will resume questioning once he regains composure.