Shloka 53
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
ततो राजानमासाद्य प्रहरन््तमभीतवत् । अविध्यन्नव्ि: क्षेमं स हतः प्रापतद् रथात्,फिर निर्भय-से प्रहार करते हुए राजा क्षेमके पास पहुँचकर उन्हें नौ बाणोंसे बींध डाला। उन बाणोंसे मारे जाकर वे रथसे नीचे गिर गये
tato rājānam āsādya praharan abhītavat | avidhyan nava-bhiḥ kṣemaṃ sa hataḥ prāpatad rathāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian, mendekati Raja Kṣema ketika baginda menyerang tanpa gentar, Droṇa menikamnya dengan sembilan anak panah. Terluka oleh anak panah itu, Kṣema jatuh dari keretanya. Adegan ini menegaskan derap pertempuran yang tidak berbelas: keberanian dan martabat raja tidak memberi kekebalan, dan tugas seorang pahlawan (sebagaimana difahami di medan laga) dilaksanakan dengan ketegasan yang menentukan—hingga membawa maut.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethic of battlefield duty as portrayed in the epic: fearlessness and decisive action are praised in combat, yet even kings are vulnerable to the consequences of war. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring reminder that power and status do not shield one from mortality.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior closes in on King Kṣema while Kṣema is fighting boldly, pierces him with nine arrows, and Kṣema—struck down—falls from his chariot.