Shloka 3
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
विप्रद्रुतेष्वनीकेषु विध्वस्तेषु समन््तत: । प्रभग्नं स्वबलं दृष्ट््वा पुत्रस्ते द्रोणम भ्ययात्,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 | vipradruteṣv anīkeṣu vidhvasteṣu samantataḥ | prabhagnaṃ svabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā putras te droṇam abhyayāt | tvarann ekarathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt |
Sañjaya said: O King, when the battle-formations had been thrown into confusion and shattered on every side, and when he saw his own forces broken and fleeing, your son hastened to Droṇa. Quickly approaching him in a single chariot, he met Droṇa and spoke to him. The scene underscores the moral pressure of leadership in war: when an army collapses, the commander’s duty is tested, and desperation drives rulers to seek counsel and protection from those they deem their strongest support.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of rulership in war: when one’s forces collapse, a leader’s responsibility becomes urgent, and reliance on capable counsel (here, Droṇa) intensifies. It implicitly contrasts panic-driven dependence with steadiness expected of a kṣatriya leader.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava formations are scattered and shattered; seeing his army routed, Duryodhana quickly goes alone in a single chariot to Droṇa, meets him, and begins to speak—setting up Duryodhana’s appeal or complaint to his commander.