Shloka 29
Adhyāya 14: Śalya’s Missile-Pressure and the Pāṇḍava Convergence (शल्यस्य शरवर्षम्)
हताश्वे तु रथे तिष्ठन् द्रोणपुत्रस्त्वयस्मयम्
hatāśve tu rathe tiṣṭhan droṇaputrastvayasmayam
Sañjaya berkata: Berdiri di atas kereta perangnya yang kuda-kudanya telah terbunuh, putera Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā) tetap teguh—semangatnya tidak tunduk—meneruskan kerja perang yang suram walaupun sarana bergerak dan perlindungannya telah hancur. Saat itu menegaskan bahawa dalam perang, tekad boleh bertahan melampaui sokongan kebendaan, lalu menimbulkan ketegangan etika antara keberanian yang tabah dan momentum balas dendam yang memusnahkan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness under extreme loss: even when external supports collapse (a chariot without horses), inner resolve can continue. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether such firmness serves dharma (duty and protection) or becomes mere hardening that fuels further harm.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman) is still standing on his chariot even after its horses have been killed, indicating a critical, dangerous moment in the battle where he persists despite being exposed and effectively immobilized.