Shloka 216
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
आक्रीडन्तो वहन्ति सम सारड्रशबला हया: । आर्य! पुरुषसिंह शिशुपालके पुत्रके सारंगके समान चितकबरे अश्व खेल करते हुए-से वहन कर रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca | ākrīḍanto vahanti sama-sāradr̥śa-balā hayāḥ | ārya! puruṣa-siṁha śiśu-pālaka-putrake sāraṅgake samāna-citakabare aśva khel karate hue-se vahana kara rahe the |
Sañjaya berkata: Kuda-kuda itu, sama kuat dan serupa rupanya, seakan-akan membawa penunggangnya sambil bermain. Wahai yang mulia! Para lelaki laksana singa itu dibawa maju seolah-olah anak muda yang bebas resah—seperti budak penggembala atau anak lelaki lincah bak rusa—bersukan di atas tunggangan. Bahkan di tengah gerak perang yang muram, kemahiran mereka menjadikan tunggangan tampak mudah, memperlihatkan bagaimana kepandaian dan keyakinan dapat menutupi kerasnya medan laga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how disciplined skill and courage can make even perilous action appear effortless. Ethically, it points to the kṣatriya ideal of mastery and composure in duty, while also reminding the reader that the seeming ‘play’ occurs within the grave reality of war.
Sanjaya describes a battlefield movement where strong, well-matched horses carry heroic warriors. Their riding looks like playful sport, emphasizing speed, control, and confidence as the forces surge through the conflict in Droṇa Parva.