Shloka 52
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
कायरोंका भय बढ़ानेवाले उस तुमुल संग्राममें दो घड़ीतक उन दोनोंका समान रूपसे युद्ध चलता रहा ।। ततो द्रौणि्महाराज पार्षतस्य महात्मन: । ध्वजं धनुस्तथा छत्रमुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी
kāyaroṅkā bhaya baṛhānevāle usa tumula saṅgrāmameṃ do ghaṛītaka una donoṅkā samāna rūpase yuddha calatā rahā || tato drauṇir mahārāja pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ | dhvajaṃ dhanus tathā chatram ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī ||
サञ्जयは言った。「臆する者の恐れを増すその轟然たる戦いで、二人はおよそ二ガティのあいだ互角に戦った。だがその後、王よ、ドローニはパールシャタの大魂の子の旗標と弓、そして儀礼の天蓋を打ち落とし、さらに戦車の両輪と御者をも倒した。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear spreads in war and how a warrior’s strategy often targets the opponent’s symbols and instruments of power (banner, bow, parasol, chariot parts) to disable resistance. Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare: victory is pursued through decisive incapacitation, while courage is tested amid collective panic.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇi (Aśvatthāmā) and Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) fight evenly for a measured time. Then Droṇi gains an advantage by striking down Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s banner, bow, and parasol, and by damaging the chariot setup (wheels) and charioteer—turning the duel by crippling the opponent’s fighting capacity.