Shloka 133

उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations

Devanagari script

द्रोणमेवा भ्यवर्तन्त पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्‌ । प्रहार करनेमें कुशल छ: हजार प्रभद्रक और पांचाल योद्धा भी शिखण्डीको आगे करके द्रोणाचार्यपर ही चढ़ आये

Transliteration

droṇam evābhyavartanta puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam | prahāra-karaṇe kuśalāḥ ṣaṭ-sahasrāḥ prabhadrakāḥ pāñcālā yoddhā api śikhaṇḍinaṃ agre kṛtvā droṇācāryam eva cāḍhāyayan |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀଙ୍କୁ ଅଗ୍ରଭାଗରେ ରଖି ସେମାନେ ସିଧା ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେଲେ। ପ୍ରହାରରେ କୁଶଳ ଛଅ ହଜାର ପ୍ରଭଦ୍ରକ ଓ ପାଞ୍ଚାଳ ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶିଖଣ୍ଡୀଙ୍କୁ ଆଗରେ କରି ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଝାପି ପଡ଼ିଲେ।

Word by Word

• द्रोणम्: Drona (as the object/target)
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अभ्यवर्तन्त: they advanced/turned towards (attacked)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√वृत्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुरस्कृत्य: having placed in front / having put forward
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुरस्-√कृ
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Active

• शिखण्डिनम्: Shikhandin
• शिखण्डिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Prabhadrakas
• Pāñcāla warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata tension: victory in war often depends on exploiting an opponent’s dharmic limits. Droṇa’s moral hesitation regarding Śikhaṇḍin becomes a strategic vulnerability, raising ethical questions about whether tactical necessity can justify morally ambiguous means.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Pāṇḍava-aligned forces—six thousand Prabhadrakas along with Pāñcāla warriors—advance directly on Droṇa, deliberately placing Śikhaṇḍin at the front. This formation is meant to blunt Droṇa’s resistance and enable a concentrated assault on him.