Mahabharata 7.73.10 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 73, Shloka 10
द्रोण–सात्यकि द्वैरथम्
Droṇa and Sātyaki: The Chariot Duel
ततो द्रोण: कृप: कर्णो द्रौणि: कौसल्य एव च । कृतवर्मा च सौभद्रंं षड् रथा: पर्यवारयन्
tato droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇo drauṇiḥ kausalya eva ca | kṛtavarmā ca saubhadraṃ ṣaḍ-rathāḥ paryavārayan ||
Then Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Droṇā’s son Aśvatthāmā, Kausalya (Bhūriśravas), and Kṛtavarmā—six great chariot-warriors—closed in on Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), surrounding him on all sides. The scene underscores the harsh ethics of war: a lone hero is deliberately hemmed in by multiple masters of combat, revealing how victory is pursued even when fairness is strained.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between proclaimed dharma in warfare and the reality of expedient tactics: when many elite warriors jointly target a single opponent, the pursuit of victory can override ideals of fair combat, prompting reflection on righteous conduct under pressure.
During the battle episode centered on Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), six prominent Kaurava chariot-warriors—Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, Aśvatthāmā, Kausalya (Bhūriśravas), and Kṛtavarmā—coordinate to encircle him from all sides.
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