Shloka 27
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
दुर्योधन उवाच कथं त्वामप्यतिक्रान्त: सर्वशस्त्रभूृतां बरम् । धनंजयो मया शक््य आचार्य प्रतिबाधितुम्,त्वरन्नेकरथेनैव समेत्य द्रोणमब्रवीत् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर जब कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन सिन्धुराज जयद्रथका वध करनेकी इच्छासे द्रोणाचार्य और कृतवर्माका दुस्तर सेना-व्यूह भेदन करके आपकी सेनामें प्रविष्ट हो गये और सव्यसाची अर्जुनके हाथसे जब काम्बोजराजकुमार सुदक्षिण तथा पराक्रमी श्रुतायुध मार दिये गये तथा जब सारी सेनाएँ नष्ट-भ्रष्ट होकर चारों ओर भाग खड़ी हुईं, उस समय अपनी सम्पूर्ण सेनामें भगदड़ मची देख आपका पुत्र दुर्योधन बड़ी उतावलीके साथ एकमात्र रथके द्वारा द्रोणाचार्यके पास गया और उनसे मिलकर इस प्रकार बोला--
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhana uvāca—kathaṃ tvām apy atikrāntaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam | dhanaṃjayo mayā śakya ācārya pratibādhitum, tvarann ekarathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt ||
Sanjaya said: Duryodhana spoke—“How has Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) managed to pass even you, O Teacher, the foremost among all bearers of weapons? How could I possibly check him? In haste, coming alone in a single chariot, he approached Droṇa and addressed him thus.” The passage frames Duryodhana’s anxious appeal as his army reels, highlighting the moral tension of relying on revered elders to uphold a cause under strain.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical and psychological strain of war-leadership: when a cause falters, leaders may lean on revered authorities (the ācārya) to compensate for their own limits. It also highlights the peril of overreliance on status and reputation—Duryodhana is shocked that even the ‘best of weapon-bearers’ could be bypassed, revealing how battlefield reality can overturn assumed hierarchies.
As Arjuna breaks through formidable defenses, Duryodhana—seeing his side destabilized—rushes alone in a single chariot to Droṇa and questions how Arjuna could have crossed past him. The line sets up Duryodhana’s urgent appeal to Droṇa to stop Arjuna’s advance.