Shloka 32
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
श्रुतकीर्ति श्रुतनिधिं द्रौपदेयं हयोत्तमा: । ऊहूुः पार्थसमं युद्धे चाषपत्रनिभा हया:,इसी प्रकार युद्धमें अर्जुनकी समानता करनेवाले, शास्त्रज्ञानके भण्डार द्रौपदीनन्दन अर्जुनकुमार श्रुतकीर्तिकों नीलकण्ठकी पाँखके समान रंगवाले उत्तम घोड़े रणक्षेत्रमें ले गये
sañjaya uvāca |
śrutakīrtiḥ śrutanidhiṁ draupadeyaṁ hayottamāḥ |
ūhuḥ pārthasamaṁ yuddhe cāṣapatranibhā hayāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kuda-kuda unggul, gelap seperti bulu burung merak, membawa Śrutakīrti—putera Draupadī, khazanah ilmu suci—ke medan perang, tempat dia berusaha menandingi Pārtha (Arjuna) dalam pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ideal of kṣatriya conduct: courage in battle should be supported by śruta (learned wisdom). Even in war, excellence is not merely physical prowess but also disciplined knowledge and worthy emulation of exemplary heroes like Arjuna.
Sañjaya describes Śrutakīrti, identified as Draupadī’s son and praised as a repository of learning, being carried into the fight by superior horses whose color is compared to peacock feathers; he is portrayed as contending in battle on a level comparable to Arjuna.