Shloka 26

दुःशासननिग्रहः—द्रोणधृष्टद्युम्नयुद्धप्रसङ्गः

Rebuke of Duḥśāsana; Context of the Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna Combat

Devanagari script

स वध्यमानो बहुभि: शरै: संनतपर्वभि: । सम्प्रायाज्जवनैरश्वैद्रोणानीकाय सौबल:,झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बहुत-से बाणोंकी मार खाकर सुबलपुत्र शकुनि वेगशाली घोड़ोंकी सहायतासे द्रोणाचार्यकी सेनाके पास जा पहुँचा

Transliteration

sa vadhyamāno bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ | samprāyāj javanair aśvair droṇānīkāya saubalaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「節の曲がった数多の矢に射すくめられながらも、スバラの子シャクニは俊足の馬を駆って疾走し、ドローナの戦陣へと辿り着いた。」

Word by Word

सःhe

वध्यमानःbeing struck/killed (being attacked)

बहुभिःby many

शरैःby arrows

संनतपर्वभिःwith bent joints/knots (i.e., having bent nodes)

सम्प्रायात्went/arrived

जवनैःby swift (ones)

अश्वैःby horses

द्रोण-अनीकायto Drona's army/host

सौबलःthe son of Subala (Shakuni)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Śakuni (Saubala, son of Subala)

Droṇa

Droṇa’s army/battle-array (Droṇānīka)

arrows (śara)

horses (aśva)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the ethics of war, endurance and tactical prudence are vital: when overwhelmed, a warrior may withdraw to a stronger formation to preserve life and continue the fight, rather than pursue isolated heroics that waste strength and jeopardize allies.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakuni, badly hit by numerous arrows, escapes using swift horses and reaches the protective battle-array of Droṇa, indicating a retreat/regrouping under pressure within the larger Kaurava formation.