Shloka 626
किंचिदब्रुवत:ः कायाद् विचकर्तासिना शिर: । देहधारी द्रोणके शरीरसे प्राण निकल गये थे, अतः वे कुछ भी बोल नहीं रहे थे। इस अवस्थामें उनके मस्तकका बाल पकड़कर धृष्टद्युम्नने तलवारसे उनके सिरको धड़से काट लिया
sañjaya uvāca | kiñcid abruvataḥ kāyād vicakartāsinā śiraḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika tubuh Droṇa tidak lagi mampu mengucapkan walau sepatah kata, Dhṛṣṭadyumna menyambar rambutnya dan dengan pedang memenggal kepalanya dari tubuh. Perbuatan itu menandai titik belok yang muram dalam perang: seorang guru yang dimuliakan, bisu dan tidak berdaya, dibunuh dengan cara yang menajamkan persoalan tentang dharma di tengah keperluan medan tempur dan dendam.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the Mahābhārata’s recurring ethical tension: in war, strategic aims and personal enmities can drive actions that appear to violate ideals of dharma—especially when the victim is a venerable teacher and no longer resisting. It invites reflection on whether ends can justify means, and how quickly righteousness can be compromised under the pressures of conflict.
Sanjaya reports that Droṇa, unable to speak (and effectively incapacitated), is seized by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, who cuts off Droṇa’s head with a sword. This describes the decisive killing of Droṇa on the battlefield and signals a major shift in the course of the war.