Mahabharata 7.21.28 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 28
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
तस्य चानदतो द्रोण: शिर: कायात् सकुण्डलम् | क्षुरेणापाहरत् तूर्ण ततो मत्स्या: प्रदुद्रुवु:
tasya cānadato droṇaḥ śiraḥ kāyāt sakuṇḍalam | kṣureṇāpāharat tūṛṇaṃ tato matsyāḥ pradudruvuḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika dia masih mengaum, Droṇa segera memenggal kepalanya—yang masih berhias subang—dari tubuhnya dengan anak panah bermata pisau bernama Kṣura. Melihat itu, para pahlawan negeri Matsya pun kocar-kacir melarikan diri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how swiftly decisive action in war can collapse an opposing force’s morale; it also implicitly reminds the reader that battlefield success often hinges on courage and leadership, while the ethical gravity of killing remains a sobering backdrop.
Droṇa, amid combat, uses the razor-edged arrow called Kṣura to cut off an opponent’s head (described as still wearing earrings). Witnessing this display of force, the Matsya troops panic and flee.
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