Mahabharata 7.7.1 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 7, Shloka 1

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

अपन का छा | अकाल सप्तमो<्ध्याय: द्रोणाचार्यका सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषेक

Transliteration

droṇa uvāca | vedaṃ ṣaḍ-aṅgaṃ vedāham artha-vidyāṃ ca mānavīm | traiyambakam atho ’ṣv-astraṃ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca ||

Translation

ദ്രോണൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! ഞാൻ ഷഡംഗങ്ങളോടുകൂടിയ വേദവും, മനുപ്രണീതമായ അർത്ഥവിദ്യ (രാജനീതിശാസ്ത്രം)യും അറിയുന്നു. കൂടാതെ ത്ര്യംബകൻ (ശിവൻ) നൽകിയ അസ്ത്രവിദ്യയും, നാനാവിധ ശസ്ത്രാസ്ത്രങ്ങളുടെയും ജ്ഞാനവും എനിക്കുണ്ട്।

Word by Word

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वेदम्: the Veda
• वेदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• षडङ्गम्: with six auxiliaries (Vedangas)
• षडङ्गम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षडङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वेद: I know
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्थविद्याम्: the science of polity/economics (Arthavidya)
• अर्थविद्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थविद्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मानवीम्: of Manu / taught by Manu
• मानवीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानवी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रैयम्बकम्: Tryambaka (Shiva)
• त्रैयम्बकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अथ: then/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• इष्वस्त्रम्: missile-weaponry (archery/arrow-weapons)
• इष्वस्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्वस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शस्त्राणि: weapons (hand-held arms)
• शस्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Droṇa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by 'rājan')
• Veda
• Vedāṅgas (six auxiliaries)
• Manu
• Tryambaka/Śiva
• Astra (missile weapons)
• Śastra (hand-held weapons/arms)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the breadth of Droṇa’s mastery—scriptural learning (Veda with Vedāṅgas), political wisdom (artha-vidyā in Manu’s tradition), and martial science (astra-śastra). It implicitly raises an ethical question central to the epic: profound knowledge can serve dharma or intensify destruction, depending on intent and allegiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

At the opening of this chapter in Droṇa Parva, Droṇa speaks to the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, via Sañjaya’s narration) asserting his qualifications and prowess. This functions as a prelude to his leadership in battle and the display of his formidable power once he is placed at the head of the Kaurava forces.