Shloka 26
Droṇa’s Resolve to Restrain Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna’s Protective Vow (द्रोणस्य युधिष्ठिरनिग्रह-प्रयत्नः)
अहं गृहीत्वा राजानं सत्यधर्मपरायणम् । आनयिष्यामि ते राजन् वशमद्य न संशय:
ahaṃ gṛhītvā rājānaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇam | ānayiṣyāmi te rājan vaśam adya na saṃśayaḥ ||
Droṇa berkata: “Setelah menangkap raja—yang berpegang pada kebenaran dan dharma—aku akan membawanya ke bawah kekuasaan tuanku pada hari ini, wahai Raja; tiada keraguan.”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension central to the epic: even a person devoted to truth and dharma can become a target in war, and martial duty may compel actions (capture and subjugation) that stand in contrast to the opponent’s moral stature.
Droṇa declares to the king he is addressing that he will capture “the king devoted to truth and dharma” and bring him under that king’s control that very day, asserting complete confidence and urgency in the ongoing battle plan.