Shloka 40
द्रोण–सात्यकि-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Sātyaki Engagement
कर्णेन विजिता: पूर्व संग्रामे शूरसम्मता: । भारद्वाजं पुरस्कृत्य हृष्टात्मानो<र्जुनं प्रति,इनके पीछे दस हजार रथी, अभीषाह, शूरसेन, शिबि, वसाति, मावेल्लक, ललित्थ, केकय, मद्रक, नारायण नामक गोपालगण तथा काम्बोजदेशीय सैनिकगण भी थे। इन सबको पूर्वकालमें कर्णने रणभूमिमें जीतकर अपने अधीन कर लिया था। ये सब-के-सब शूरवीरोंद्वारा सम्मानित योद्धा थे और प्रसन्नचित्त हो द्रोणाचार्यको आगे करके अर्जुनपर चढ़ आये थे
sañjaya uvāca |
karṇena vijitāḥ pūrvaṃ saṅgrāme śūrasammatāḥ |
bhāradvājaṃ puraskṛtya hṛṣṭātmāno 'rjunaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: Those warriors—earlier conquered in battle by Karṇa and acknowledged as heroes—advanced against Arjuna with uplifted spirits, placing Bhāradvāja’s son (Droṇa) at their head. The scene underscores how prior subjugation and alliances forged by force now swell the Kaurava host, as they rally under Droṇa’s command to confront Arjuna in the climactic violence of the war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how conquest and coercive alliances shape the moral landscape of war: warriors previously subdued by Karṇa now fight under Droṇa’s leadership against Arjuna. It invites reflection on dharma in warfare—how power, loyalty, and obligation can be driven by past defeat rather than inner conviction.
Sañjaya describes a contingent of warriors—earlier defeated by Karṇa—now advancing to attack Arjuna. They are confident and energized, and they place Droṇa (Bhāradvāja’s son) at the forefront as their commander in the assault.