Shloka 24
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
राधेयं पूजयन्तश्न प्रशंसन्तश्न निर्ययु: । अस्माकं शकटबव्यूहो द्रोणेन विहितो&$भवत्,प्रजानाथ! इस प्रकार प्रसन्न होकर परस्पर बात करते तथा राधानन्दन कर्णकी प्रशंसा और आदर करते हुए आपके सैनिक युद्धके लिये चले। उस समय द्रोणाचार्यने हमारी सेनाके द्वारा शकटव्यूहका निर्माण किया था
rādheyaṁ pūjayantaś ca praśaṁsantaś ca niryayuḥ | asmākaṁ śakaṭa-vyūho droṇena vihito 'bhavat, prajānātha |
サンジャヤは言った。「ラーデーヤ（カルナ）を敬い、互いに彼を称えながら、我らの戦士たちは戦へと出立した。その時、人々の主よ、ドローナは我が軍を“シャカタ”（車形）の陣形に整えていた。この偈は、英雄への公の敬意と励ましが軍の士気を支えうる一方で、戦略と指揮（ドローナの布陣）が戦場の暴力のかたちを定めることを示している。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores two forces that drive outcomes in conflict: inner cohesion (morale built through honouring and praising a leading warrior) and outer structure (disciplined strategy embodied in Droṇa’s planned formation). Ethically, it hints that speech—praise, recognition, encouragement—can mobilize people toward grave action, so leaders must weigh how words and esteem are used in the service of war.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the Kaurava troops, pleased and conversing among themselves, set out to fight while praising and honouring Karṇa. Simultaneously, Droṇa organizes their forces into the Śakaṭa (cart-shaped) vyūha, indicating a deliberate tactical deployment for the day’s battle.