Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ३३३ *लोक हैं।) नल््च्स््ज्ल्स्स्सि हज #5््ामप्र्स त्रयोदशो< ध्याय: अर्जुनका युधिष्ठिरको आश्वासन देना तथा युद्धमें द्रोणाचार्यका पराक्रम संजय उवाच सान्तरे तु प्रतिज्ञाते राज्ञो द्रोणेन निग्रहे । ततस्ते सैनिका: श्रुत्वा तं युधिष्ठिरनिग्रहम्
sañjaya uvāca | sāntare tu pratijñāte rājño droṇena nigrahe | tataste sainikāḥ śrutvā taṃ yudhiṣṭhira-nigraham āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, ketika Droṇa—dengan memberi sedikit sela—bersumpah untuk menangkap Raja Yudhiṣṭhira, para pahlawan tuanku, mendengar usaha untuk menawan Yudhiṣṭhira, segera mengaum seperti singa dan menepuk-nepuk lengan mereka. Wahai keturunan Bharata! Pada saat itu Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira dengan cepat mengetahui sepenuhnya, melalui perisik yang dipercayai, apa yang hendak dilakukan oleh putera Bhāradvāja.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how vows and strategic intentions in war immediately shape collective morale and countermeasures; it also underscores the ethical weight of targeting Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira and the role of reliable intelligence in responding to threats.
Droṇa declares a vow—after allowing some interval—to capture Yudhiṣṭhira. Hearing this, the Kaurava side becomes energized, and the plan is quickly understood through trusted agents, making Droṇa’s intention widely known.
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