Shloka 24

Adhyāya 16: Saṃśaptaka-vrata and the Diversion of Arjuna (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय १६)

Devanagari script

संवार्य च रणे द्रोणं कुमारस्तु महाबल: । शरैरनेकसाहसै: कृतहस्तो जितश्रम:,इतना ही नहीं, उस महाबली कुमारने कई हजार बाणोंद्वारा रणक्षेत्रमें द्रोणाचार्यको रोक दिया; क्योंकि उनके हाथ अस्त्र-संचालनकी कलामें दक्ष थे और उन्होंने परिश्रमको जीत लिया था

Transliteration

saṃvārya ca raṇe droṇaṃ kumāras tu mahābalaḥ | śarair anekasāhasraiḥ kṛtahasto jitaśramaḥ ||

Translation

ਰਣ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਉਸ ਮਹਾਬਲੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਯੋਧੇ ਨੇ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਦ੍ਰੋਣਾਚਾਰਯ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕ ਲਿਆ। ਅਸਤ੍ਰ-ਚਾਲਨ ਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਹੱਥ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਿਪੁੰਨ ਸਨ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਥਕਾਵਟ ਉੱਤੇ ਜਿੱਤ ਪਾ ਲਈ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

संवार्यhaving checked/held back

चand

रणेin battle

द्रोणम्Drona

कुमारःthe prince/young warrior

तुbut/indeed

महाबलःvery strong, mighty

शरैःwith arrows

अनेकसाहसैःby many thousands (in thousands)

कृतहस्तःskilled, practiced (lit. having a trained hand)

जितश्रमःtireless (lit. one who has conquered fatigue)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Droṇa

kumāra (unnamed young warrior)

arrows (śara)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣātra-dharma in practice: disciplined training (kṛtahasta) and mastery over fatigue (jitaśrama) enable a warrior to meet even a revered elder like Droṇa in battle without wavering. Ethically, it underscores that effectiveness in duty arises from skill and self-control, not mere aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a powerful young warrior (‘kumāra’) halts Droṇa’s advance on the battlefield by showering him with thousands of arrows, demonstrating exceptional archery and tireless stamina.