Shloka 61
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अथान्तरिक्षे नादो<भूद् द्रोणं तत्र प्रशंसताम् दुष्करं कृतवान् द्रोणो यदर्जुनमयोधयत्,इसी समय आचार्य द्रोणकी प्रशंसा करनेवाले देवताओंका यह शब्द आकाशमें गूँज उठा--'अहो! द्रोणाचार्यने बड़ा दुष्कर कार्य किया कि अबतक अर्जुनके साथ युद्धमें डटे रह गये। ये अर्जुन तो शत्रुओंको मथ डालनेवाले, महापराक्रमी, दृढ़ मुष्टिवाले, दुर्धर्ष तथा सम्पूर्ण देवताओं और दैत्योंको जीतनेवाले महारथी वीर हैं"
athāntarikṣe nādo 'bhūd droṇaṃ tatra praśaṃsatām | duṣkaraṃ kṛtavān droṇo yad arjunam ayodhayat ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Nesse instante, uma voz ressoou no céu, proferida por aqueles que louvavam Droṇa: “Ah! Droṇa realizou um feito dificílimo — manteve-se firme na batalha e combateu Arjuna.” A exclamação realça tanto a força avassaladora de Arjuna quanto a extraordinária firmeza exigida de um mestre-guerreiro como Droṇa para enfrentar tal adversário sem ceder.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical weight of steadfastness in one’s role: Droṇa’s endurance against an exceptionally powerful opponent is praised as a rare accomplishment. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that true merit in war is not mere victory, but disciplined resolve and the capacity to meet daunting duty without collapse.
As the battle context intensifies, a celestial proclamation is heard praising Droṇa for continuing to engage Arjuna in combat. The narrative uses this ‘voice in the sky’ to magnify Arjuna’s might and, by contrast, to elevate Droṇa’s valor for holding his ground against him.