Shloka 55
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
करवाणि च ते काम ब्रूहि त्वमभिकड्क्षितम् । एवंगते महाराज युद्धादन्यत् किमिच्छसि,महाराज! मैं तुम्हारी कामना पूर्ण करूँगा। तुम्हारा अभीष्ट मनोरथ क्या है? वर्तमान परिस्थितिमें मैं तुम्हारी ओरसे युद्ध तो कर नहीं सकता; उसे छोड़कर तुम बताओ, क्या चाहते हो?
karavāṇi ca te kāma brūhi tvam abhikāṅkṣitam | evaṃgate mahārāja yuddhād anyat kim icchasi ||
Droṇa berkata: “Aku akan menunaikan hasratmu—katakanlah apa yang benar-benar kau dambakan. Setelah perkara sampai begini, wahai Maharaja, aku tidak dapat berperang bagi pihakmu; ketepikan dahulu peperangan, katakanlah apa lagi yang kau inginkan.”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint and clarity of intention: even a powerful warrior-teacher like Droṇa frames action in terms of what is permissible in the given circumstances, offering to fulfill a request but explicitly limiting it by refusing to fight, implying that duty and moral boundaries govern service.
Droṇa addresses a king and invites him to state his desired request. However, he declares that, given the present situation, he cannot engage in battle on the king’s behalf, and therefore asks what other non-martial wish the king wants fulfilled.