Shloka 52
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १६२: प्रातःसंध्यायां युद्धप्रवृत्तिः तथा रजोमेघे संमूढता
कायरोंका भय बढ़ानेवाले उस तुमुल संग्राममें दो घड़ीतक उन दोनोंका समान रूपसे युद्ध चलता रहा ।। ततो द्रौणि्महाराज पार्षतस्य महात्मन: । ध्वजं धनुस्तथा छत्रमुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी
kāyaroṅkā bhaya baṛhānevāle usa tumula saṅgrāmameṃ do ghaṛītaka una donoṅkā samāna rūpase yuddha calatā rahā || tato drauṇir mahārāja pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ | dhvajaṃ dhanus tathā chatram ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran yang gempar itu, yang menambah takut orang yang lemah hati, kedua-duanya bertempur seimbang kira-kira dua ghaṭī. Kemudian, wahai Raja, Droṇi menumbangkan panji, busur, dan payung kebesaran putera Pārṣata yang berhati luhur; malah dia juga menjatuhkan kedua-dua roda kereta perangnya serta saisnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear spreads in war and how a warrior’s strategy often targets the opponent’s symbols and instruments of power (banner, bow, parasol, chariot parts) to disable resistance. Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare: victory is pursued through decisive incapacitation, while courage is tested amid collective panic.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇi (Aśvatthāmā) and Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) fight evenly for a measured time. Then Droṇi gains an advantage by striking down Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s banner, bow, and parasol, and by damaging the chariot setup (wheels) and charioteer—turning the duel by crippling the opponent’s fighting capacity.