Shloka 24
Aśvatthāmā’s Lamentation, Vow of Retaliation, and the Manifestation of the Nārāyaṇāstra (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६६)
द्रोणो हि बलवान युद्धे क्षिप्रहस्त: प्रतापवान् । निर्जयेत् त्रिदशान् युद्धे किमु पार्थानू ससोमकान्,क्योंकि द्रोणाचार्य बलवान, प्रतापी और युद्धमें शीघ्रतापूर्वक हाथ चलानेवाले हैं। वे संग्राममें देवताओंको भी परास्त कर सकते हैं; फिर कुन्तीके पुत्रों और सोमकोंकी तो बात ही क्या है?
droṇo hi balavān yuddhe kṣiprahastaḥ pratāpavān | nirjayet tridaśān yuddhe kimu pārthān sa-somakān ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବଳବାନ, ଶୀଘ୍ରହସ୍ତ ଓ ପ୍ରତାପଶାଳୀ। ସେ ସମରରେ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜିତିପାରନ୍ତି; ତେବେ ସୋମକମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ପୃଥାପୁତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜିତିବା କ’ଣ କଠିନ?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial prowess can breed certainty and pride in wartime judgments; ethically, it cautions that victory is not guaranteed by strength alone, since dharma, strategy, and destiny also shape outcomes.
Sañjaya reports an assessment of Droṇa’s overwhelming capability, asserting that if he could defeat even the gods, then defeating the Pāṇḍavas and their Somaka allies should be easier—reflecting the Kaurava side’s confidence in Droṇa as commander.