Mahabharata (Gita Press) 7.21.54 - Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 54
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
स मध्यं प्राप्य सैन्यानां सर्वा: प्रविचरन् दिश: । त्राता ह्भवदन्येषां न त्रातव्य: कथठ्चन
sa madhyaṁ prāpya sainyānāṁ sarvāḥ pravicaran diśaḥ | trātā bhavad anyeṣāṁ na trātavyaḥ kathaṁcana ||
ಅವನು ಸೇನೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯಭಾಗಕ್ಕೆ ನುಗ್ಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಸಂಚರಿಸಿದನು. ಶತ್ರುಸೈನ್ಯದೊಳಗೇ ಚಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೂ ಇತರರ ರಕ್ಷಕನಾದನು; ಆದರೆ ತಾನೇ ಯಾವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಯಾರ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಗೆ ಅವಲಂಬನೀಯನಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of protective leadership in dharma-yuddha: a true guardian takes responsibility for others even in extreme danger, not positioning himself as someone who must be shielded, but as one who shields.
Sañjaya describes a warrior who has pushed into the center of the opposing forces and is moving freely in every direction, rescuing and safeguarding others; despite being deep inside the enemy formation, he remains unprotected by others—functioning solely as the protector.
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