Shloka 12
शैनेयचरितम्
The Exploits of Śaineya/Sātyaki amid Encirclement
तेडपि सर्वप्रयत्नेन द्रोणमेव समाद्रवन् । बिभित्सन्तो महासेतु वार्योघा: प्रबला इव,पाण्डव-योद्धाओंने भी सारी शक्ति लगाकर द्रोणपर ही धावा किया था; मानो पानीके प्रखर प्रवाह किसी महान् पुलको तोड़ डालना चाहते हों
Te ’pi sarva-prayatnena Droṇam eva samādravan | bibhitsantaḥ mahā-setuṁ vāry-oghāḥ prabalā iva ||
Sañjaya said: They too, exerting every effort, charged straight at Droṇa alone, intent on breaking him—like powerful torrents of water striving to shatter a mighty bridge. The image underscores the Pandava warriors’ concentrated resolve to neutralize the chief pillar of the opposing force, even at great risk amid the moral strain of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights focused resolve against a central support: in conflict, a single steadfast leader can function like a ‘bridge’ holding an entire force together, so opponents concentrate their effort there. Ethically, it also reflects the grim necessity of war where duty-driven strategy can demand relentless pressure on even a revered teacher.
Sañjaya describes the Pāṇḍava fighters collectively directing their full strength toward Droṇa, launching a concentrated assault. The comparison to raging floodwaters trying to break a massive bridge conveys both the intensity of their attack and Droṇa’s role as a formidable, load-bearing pillar of the Kaurava side.