Shloka 53
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
द्रोण उवाच यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय: । शपेयं त्वां महाराज पराभावाय सर्वश:
droṇa uvāca yadi māṁ nābhigacchethā yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ | śapeyaṁ tvāṁ mahārāja parābhāvāya sarvaśaḥ ||
ドローナは言った――「大王よ、戦うと決したのに、もし汝が我がもとへ来なかったなら、我は汝に呪詛を下し、あらゆる面での完全な敗北を招かせたであろう。」
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of commitment and proper alignment with one’s appointed guide/commander: once a decision for war is taken, failing to present oneself and coordinate is treated as a grave breach of discipline, inviting severe consequences (here expressed as a potential curse leading to total defeat).
Droṇa addresses a king and states that if the king, despite having resolved to fight, had not come to him, Droṇa would have cursed him so that he would suffer complete defeat—underscoring Droṇa’s authority and the seriousness of wartime resolve and obedience.