Shloka 11
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
विषण्णवदनश्चापि युयुधानो5भवन्नूप । भारद्वाजं रणे दृष्टवा विसृजन्तं शितान् शरान्
viṣaṇṇavadanaś cāpi yuyudhāno 'bhavan nṛpa | bhāradvājaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā visṛjantaṃ śitān śarān ||
विषण्णवदनश्चापि युयुधानोऽभवन्नृप । भारद्वाजं रणे दृष्ट्वा विसृजन्तं शितान् शरान् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological and ethical weight of warfare: even renowned warriors may falter inwardly when faced with relentless violence. It implicitly underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya duty and the human cost of battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna) becomes visibly dejected upon seeing Droṇa (called Bhāradvāja) in the thick of battle, continuously shooting sharp arrows—an image of Droṇa’s overwhelming martial dominance at that moment.