Shloka 163
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
पुत्र विराटराजस्य सत्वरं समुदावहन् । हल्दीके समान पीले रंगवाले तथा सुवर्णमय माला धारण करनेवाले वेगशाली घोड़े विराटराजके पुत्रको शीघ्रतापूर्वक रणभूमिकी ओर ले जा रहे थे
putraṃ virāṭarājasya satvaraṃ samudāvahan | haldīke samāna-pīle raṅgavāle tathā suvarṇamaya-mālā-dhāraṇa-karṇe vegāśālī aśvā virāṭarājasya putraṃ śīghratāpūrvakaṃ raṇabhūmeḥ oraṃ le jā rahe the |
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan pantas kuda-kuda gagah itu membawa putera Raja Virāṭa. Berwarna kuning seperti kunyit dan berhias kalung emas, mereka segera menghela baginda muda itu menuju medan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the outward signs of power—speed, ornamentation, royal display—can propel a warrior into the harsh reality of battle. It implicitly frames kṣatriya life as bound to duty and momentum, where personal safety yields to the demands of war and honor.
Sanjaya describes the swift movement of the horses carrying King Virāṭa’s son toward the battlefield. The horses are depicted as turmeric-yellow and adorned with golden garlands, emphasizing both speed and martial pageantry as the prince is borne into combat.