Shloka 3436
अर्जुनेनार्जुनं द्रोणो मनसैवाभ्यपूजयत् । जब अर्जुनके द्वारा उनके विधिपूर्वक चलाये हुए दिव्यास्त्र भी प्रतिहत होने लगे, तब द्रोणने अर्जुनकी मन-ही-मन सराहना की
arjunena arjunaṃ droṇo manasaivābhyapūjayat |
サンジャヤは言った。ドローナは胸中においてアルジュナを讃え、敬意を捧げた。アルジュナが法と儀礼に則って放った天界の矢さえも次第に阻まれ、無力化され始めたとき、ドローナは—その戦いに要る並外れた熟達と抑制を見抜き—心のうちでアルジュナを称賛したのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, dharmic conduct includes recognizing genuine merit in an opponent. Drona’s inward praise highlights an ethical ideal in epic warfare: excellence should be acknowledged without envy, and power—especially divine weaponry—must be handled with disciplined, rule-bound restraint.
During the battle, Arjuna deploys divine missiles in the prescribed manner, yet they are being countered. Observing this high-level contest of astras and Arjuna’s disciplined mastery, Drona—though on the opposing side—silently honors Arjuna in his mind.