Mahabharata 7.93.8 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 93, Shloka 8
द्रोण–सात्यकि-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Sātyaki Engagement
संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! अर्जुनके ऐसा कहनेपर उस समय द्रोणाचार्यने उन्हें हँसते हुए-से उत्तर दिया--'अर्जुन! मुझे पराजित किये बिना जयद्रथको जीतना असम्भव है! ७ |। एतावदुक्त्वा तं द्रोण: शरब्रातैरवाकिरत् । सरथाश्चथध्वजं ती&णै: प्रहसन् वै ससारथिम्
etāvad uktvā taṃ droṇaḥ śaravrātair avākirat | sa-rathāśva-dhvajaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ prahasan vai sa-sārathim ||
Disse Sañjaya: Ó majestade! Tendo Arjuna falado assim, naquele momento Droṇācārya respondeu-lhe como que rindo com escárnio: «Arjuna! Sem me vencer primeiro, é impossível triunfar sobre Jayadratha!» Dito apenas isso, Droṇa, rindo, cobriu Arjuna com saraivadas de flechas agudas, atingindo seu carro, seus cavalos, seu estandarte e até o seu cocheiro.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of kṣatriya-dharma: duty is executed through decisive action, yet it can be accompanied by pride or mockery. Droṇa’s laughter and immediate assault show how power can be used to enforce a strategic claim—reminding readers that righteousness in war is not only about goals but also about the manner and intent with which force is applied.
After asserting that Jayadratha cannot be defeated unless Droṇa is first overcome, Droṇa immediately demonstrates his control of the battlefield by raining sharp arrows upon Arjuna—targeting not just Arjuna himself but his entire fighting apparatus: chariot, horses, banner, and charioteer.
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