Shloka 29
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
येन भोज श्र हार्दिक्यो भवांक्ष त्रिदशोपम: । अस्त्रप्रतापेन जितौ श्रुतायुश्न निबर्हित:,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-- जिसने भोजवंशी कृतवर्मा तथा देवताओंके समान तेजस्वी आपको भी अपने अस्त्रके प्रतापसे पराजित कर दिया, श्रुतायुका संहार कर डाला, काम्बोजराज सुदक्षिण तथा राजा श्रुतायुधको भी मार डाला, श्रुतायु, अच्युतायु तथा सहसरों म्लेच्छ सैनिकोंके भी प्राण ले लिये, युद्धमें अग्निके समान शत्रुओंको दग्ध करनेवाले और अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके ज्ञाता उस दुर्धर्ष वीर पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनके साथ मैं कैसे युद्ध कर सकूँगा?
sañjaya uvāca |
yena bhojaś ca hārdikyo bhavāṁś ca tridaśopamaḥ |
astrapratāpena jitau śrutāyuś ca nibarhitaḥ |
tvarann ekarathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt ||
Sanjaya said: O King, after that—when Arjuna, son of Kunti, intent on slaying Jayadratha, had broken through the hard-to-penetrate battle-array guarded by Drona and Kritavarman and entered your host; when by the might of his missiles he had overcome both the Bhoja hero Kritavarman and even you, O one like the gods; and when he had struck down Śrutāyu—then, seeing panic spread through all his forces, your son Duryodhana hurried alone in his chariot to Drona, met him, and spoke. The verse underscores how a commander’s fear and urgency arise when adharma-driven ambition meets a warrior’s focused vow and superior skill, intensifying the moral pressure of the war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and strategic pressure in war exposes leadership: when a warrior acts with unwavering resolve (Arjuna’s vow-driven advance), opponents driven by anxiety and attachment to outcome (Duryodhana) rush to seek support. It frames prowess (astrapratāpa) not merely as strength but as a force that reshapes morale, duty, and decision-making.
After Arjuna penetrates the Kaurava defenses while pursuing Jayadratha and defeats key fighters (including Kritavarman and Śrutāyu), Duryodhana sees his army thrown into disorder. He hastens alone in his chariot to Drona, meets him, and begins to speak—setting up a plea or complaint about how to face Arjuna.