ते दानवा इवेन्द्रेण वध्यमाना महात्मना । पज्चाला: केकया मत्स्या: समकम्पन्त भारत,भरतनन्दन! इन्द्रके द्वारा मारे जानेवाले दानवोंकी भाँति महामना द्रोणकी मार खाकर पांचाल, केकय और मत्स्यदेशके सैनिक काँपने लगे
te dānavā ivendreṇa vadhyamānā mahātmanā | pāñcālāḥ kekayā matsyāḥ samakampanta bhārata bharatanandana ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Bhārata, wahai kebanggaan keturunan Bharata, sebagaimana para Dānava ditumpaskan oleh Indra, demikianlah tentera Pāñcāla, Kekaya dan Matsya—dipukul oleh Droṇa yang berjiwa agung—mula menggigil ketakutan.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how inner steadiness and disciplined leadership are crucial in dharmic warfare: even a righteous force can falter when confronted by overwhelming power, so courage and duty must be upheld despite fear.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa’s assault is so formidable that the Pāñcāla, Kekaya, and Matsya troops begin to tremble—compared to Dānavas being cut down by Indra.