Shloka 17
सौप्तिकपर्व — धृष्टद्युम्नसारथिवृत्तान्तः
Report of the Night Raid and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament
रथद्वदं शरवर्षोर्मिमन्तं रत्नाचितं वाहनवाजियुक्तम् | शक्त्यूष्टिमीनध्वजनागनक्रं शरासनावर्तमहेषुफेनम्
sūta uvāca |
rathahradaṁ śaravarṣormimantaṁ ratnācitaṁ vāhanavājiyuktam |
śaktyṛṣṭimīna-dhvaja-nāga-nakraṁ śarāsanāvarta-maheṣuphenam ||
ଦ୍ରୋଣାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ମହାସାଗର ସଦୃଶ—ରଥ ତାହାର ହ୍ରଦ, ଶରବର୍ଷା ଉଠୁଥିବା ତରଙ୍ଗ; ରତ୍ନଜଟିତ ଆଭୂଷଣ ତାହାର ନିଧି-ରତ୍ନ; ରଥାଶ୍ୱ ଓ ଯାନ ସମୁଦ୍ରାଶ୍ୱ ସମାନ; ଶକ୍ତି ଓ ଋଷ୍ଟି ମତ୍ସ୍ୟ ସଦୃଶ; ଧ୍ୱଜ ନାଗ ଓ ମକର ସମାନ; ଧନୁ ଭଁବର, ମହାଶର ଫେନ। ଏମିତି ଦ୍ରୋଣ-ସାଗରକୁ ଛୋଟ-ବଡ଼ ନାନା ଶସ୍ତ୍ରର ନୌକା କରି ଯେମାନେ ପାର ହୋଇଥିଲେ, ସେହି ରାଜପୁତ୍ରମାନେ ପରେ ଅସାବଧାନତାରେ ନିହତ ହେଲେ।
सूत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of pramāda (heedlessness): even warriors capable of crossing overwhelming peril in open battle can be destroyed when vigilance and restraint lapse. Martial prowess alone is not sufficient; alertness and right conduct remain decisive.
The narrator (Sūta) uses an extended ocean metaphor to describe Droṇa’s formidable presence in battle—chariots, arrows, bows, and weapons become features of a raging sea. He then contrasts that past triumph with the later killing of princes who, despite surviving such a ‘Drona-ocean,’ were slain when they became careless.