Shloka 17
Saubhadra under Concentrated Assault; Pārṣata’s Intervention and Escalation
शरवर्ष ततस्तत् तु संनिवार्य महायशा: । दोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य मध्ये चिच्छेद कार्मुकम्,तब महायशस्वी द्रोणने उस बाण-वर्षाका निवारण करके ट्रुपदपुत्रके धनुषको बीचसे ही काट डाला
śaravarṣaṃ tatastat tu saṃnivārya mahāyaśāḥ | droṇo drupadaputrasya madhye ciccheda kārmukam ||
शरवर्षं ततस्तत्तु संनिवार्य महायशाः । द्रोणो द्रुपदपुत्रस्य मध्ये चिच्छेद कार्मुकम् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, excellence is shown not only by force but by control: Droṇa first restrains the incoming assault and then disables the opponent’s means (the bow). The episode highlights disciplined skill and strategic restraint—reducing harm by ending the exchange decisively rather than escalating it.
Dṛṣṭadyumna (Drupada’s son) sends a heavy volley of arrows at Droṇa. Droṇa counters the barrage and, with a precise shot, severs Dṛṣṭadyumna’s bow at its midpoint, temporarily neutralizing his ability to continue the attack.