Mahabharata 7.39.10 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 10
अभिमन्युना दुःशासनस्य ताडनम्
Abhimanyu’s Rebuke and Wounding of Duḥśāsana; Karṇa’s Counter-volley
घट्टयन्निव मर्माणि पुत्रस्य तव भारत । अभिमन्युं रणे दृष्टवा तदा रणविशारदम्
sañjaya uvāca |
ghaṭṭayann iva marmāṇi putrasya tava bhārata |
abhimanyum raṇe dṛṣṭvā tadā raṇaviśāradam |
tad-anantaraṁ parama-buddhimān ca pratāpī vīro droṇācāryaḥ netre harṣeṇa khilī-babhūva |
bhārata! sa yuddha-viśāradaṁ abhimanyum yuddhe sthitaṁ dṛṣṭvā tava putrasya marma-sthaleṣu prahāram iva kurvan tat-kṣaṇāt kṛpācāryaṁ sambodhyovāca ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ഭാരതാ! നിന്റെ പുത്രന്റെ പക്ഷത്തിലെ മർമ്മസ്ഥാനങ്ങളെ തന്നെ അടിക്കുന്നപോലെ, ദ്രോണൻ രണവിശാരദനായ അഭിമന്യുവിനെ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ദൃഢമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നതായി കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ആ മഹാബുദ്ധിമാനും പ്രതാപവാനുമായ വീരന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ ഹർഷത്തിൽ ദീപ്തമായി. ഉടൻ അദ്ദേഹം കൃപാചാര്യനോട് ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare is not only physical but also psychological: a commander’s words can ‘strike vital points’ by exposing weaknesses, shaping morale, and directing strategy. It also underscores the ethical tension of elders taking delight in a youth’s prowess while planning measures that may endanger him—raising questions about dharma in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa, seeing Abhimanyu firmly engaged and proving himself a formidable fighter, becomes pleased and immediately turns to speak to Kṛpa. The narration suggests Droṇa’s response is strategically aimed at undermining Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son’s position by targeting the ‘weak points’ of their side.
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