Shloka 47
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन भृशं विद्ध्वा ह्रकम्पयत् । शिखण्ड्यपि ततो राजन द्रोणपुत्रमताडयत्
sañjaya uvāca | nārācena sutīkṣṇena bhṛśaṃ viddhvā hy akampayat | śikhaṇḍy api tato rājan droṇaputram atāḍayat ||
नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन भृशं विद्ध्वा ह्यकम्पयत् । शिखण्ड्यपि ततो राजन् द्रोणपुत्रमताडयत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: endurance under injury and immediate, proportionate response in combat. It also implicitly shows how anger and rivalry perpetuate cycles of violence—each wound becomes a cause for further escalation.
Aśvatthāman strikes Śikhaṇḍin hard with a sharp nārāca arrow, making him stagger. Śikhaṇḍin then counters by striking Aśvatthāman with his own arrows, and the duel intensifies as both exchange volleys.