Shloka 13

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा च समरे द्रोणं निघ्नन्तं पाण्डवीं चमूम्‌

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā ca samare droṇaṃ nighnantaṃ pāṇḍavīṃ camūm

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。戦場にてドローナが般度族の軍勢を打ち倒してゆくのを見れば、戦の陰惨な勢いがあらわとなる――武芸の達人は群衆をも圧し伏せ、しかも敬われる師が大いなる破壊の道具となるとき、暴力の倫理的重みはいよいよ増すのである。

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• द्रोणम्: Drona
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• निघ्नन्तम्: slaying/striking down
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, accusative, singular

• पाण्डवीम्: Pandava (belonging to the Pandavas)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डवी
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

• चमूम्: army
• चमूम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू
• Form: feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa
• Pāṇḍavas
• Pāṇḍava army (camū)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the moral gravity of war: even a venerable teacher like Droṇa, bound by allegiance and kṣatriya imperatives, can become a force of mass killing. It invites reflection on how duty, loyalty, and skill can collide with compassion and the broader demands of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Droṇa is seen in the thick of battle actively cutting down the Pāṇḍava forces. The line functions as a narrative pivot highlighting Droṇa’s dominance and the severe pressure placed upon the Pāṇḍavas at this stage of the war.