Shloka 246

धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa

Devanagari script

पाज्चाल्यप्रग्रहो द्रोणं सर्वतः समवारयत्‌ । भाइयोंसहित धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने अपनी सारी सेनाके साथ जाकर धृष्टद्युम्नरूपी डोरीकी सहायतासे द्रोणाचार्यको घेर तो नहीं लिया था?

Transliteration

pāñcālya-pragraho droṇaṃ sarvataḥ samavārayat |

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ— ପାଞ୍ଚାଳ ସେନା କ’ଣ ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ସବୁଦିଗରୁ ଘେରି ନେଇନଥିଲା? ଧର୍ମରାଜ ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଓ ସମସ୍ତ ସେନା ସହିତ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହୋଇ, ଧୃଷ୍ଟଦ୍ୟୁମ୍ନକୁ ଡୋରି ପରି କରି ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ମାନୋ ବାନ୍ଧି ରଖିଥିବା ପରି ଆବରଣ କରିନଥିଲେ କି?

Word by Word

• पाञ्चाल्य-प्रग्रहम्: the Pāñcālya as the restraining-cord (i.e., Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna as the cord)
• पाञ्चाल्य-प्रग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल्यप्रग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणम्: Droṇa
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• समवारयत्: surrounded / hemmed in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Pāñcālas
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja)
• Pāṇḍava brothers
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical strain of dharma in war: reverence for a teacher does not automatically override one’s duty to protect one’s side and pursue a just objective. It also shows how leadership (Yudhiṣṭhira) must sometimes authorize harsh necessities while remaining conscious of their moral weight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya whether the Pāṇḍava-aligned Pāñcāla troops, led in effect by Yudhiṣṭhira and aided by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, managed to surround Droṇa from all directions—suggesting a coordinated attempt to contain or capture/kill the formidable Kaurava commander.