Shloka 96
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
किमहं कातरो द्रौणे पृूथगजन इवाहवे
kim ahaṃ kātaro drauṇe pṛthagjana ivāhave
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ದ್ರೌಣಿಯ ಎದುರು ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ಏಕೆ ಭಯಪಡಬೇಕು? ತರಬೇತಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯನಂತೆ ಏಕೆ ಕಾತರನಾಗಬೇಕು?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line contrasts the mindset of a resolute warrior with that of a “pṛthagjana” (ordinary person): in the dharmic frame of battlefield duty, fear is treated as a lapse from one’s role and training, and courage is upheld as a necessary ethical discipline.
Sañjaya, narrating the events of the war, voices a rhetorical challenge to fear: he asks why he should tremble before Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman) in the midst of combat, implying confidence and the expectation of steadfastness amid the terrors of Drona-parvan’s fighting.