Shloka 31
द्रोणपर्व (अध्याय ११२) — कर्णभीमयोर्युद्धम्, दुर्योधनस्य रक्षणादेशः
Droṇa-parva 112: Karṇa–Bhīma Engagement and Duryodhana’s Protective Order
महाराज! सौ केकययोद्धाओंको मारकर शेष सैनिकोंको चारों ओर खदेड़नेके पश्चात् द्रोणाचार्य मुँह बाये हुए यमराजके समान खड़े हो गये
sañjaya uvāca | mahārāja! sau kekayayoddhān mārayitvā śeṣa-sainikān caturdiśaṁ khādayitvā tato droṇācāryo yamarāja iva mukhabāya sthito 'bhavat |
सञ्जय उवाच—महाराज! केकयानां शतं हत्वा शिष्टं च बलं समन्ततो विद्राव्य द्रोणाचार्यः व्यादितास्यः सन् यमराज इव तत्रातिष्ठत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war, even when pursued as kṣatriya-duty, can assume a death-like inevitability: a great warrior’s force becomes comparable to Yama. Ethically, it invites reflection on the gravity of violence and the responsibility borne by leaders whose actions scatter and break ordinary soldiers.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa has killed a hundred Kekaya fighters and routed the rest, scattering them in all directions. Droṇa then stands on the battlefield in a terrifying posture, likened to Yamarāja, emphasizing his dominance and the panic among opposing troops.