Mahabharata 7.21.12 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 12
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
दृष्टवा सत्यजिता द्रोणं ग्रस्यमानमिवाहवे । वृक: शरशतैस्तीक3्ष्णै: पाज्चाल्यो द्रोणमार्दयत्
dṛṣṭvā satyajitaṃ droṇaṃ grasyamānam ivāhave | vṛkaḥ śaraśatais tīkṣṇaiḥ pāñcālyo droṇam ārdayat ||
Sañjaya disse: Vendo Droṇa no campo de batalha como se estivesse sendo engolido pelas flechas de Satyajit, o guerreiro pāñcāla Vṛka também o assaltou com centenas de setas agudas, causando ao mestre grande aflição.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of war: even a revered teacher like Droṇa is treated as an enemy combatant when one’s kṣatriya-duty and allegiance demand action. Reverence does not automatically suspend the harsh necessities and consequences of battle.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa is being overwhelmed by Satyajit’s arrows; witnessing this, the Pāñcāla warrior Vṛka joins in and strikes Droṇa with hundreds of sharp arrows, intensifying Droṇa’s suffering on the battlefield.
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