Shloka 40
Droṇa’s Rebuke to Duryodhana after Jayadratha’s Fall (द्रोणेन दुर्योधनं प्रति प्रत्युक्तिः)
यथा वृत्रवधे देवा: पुरा शक्रं महर्षय: । इससे कुन्तीकुमारोंको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। जैसे पूर्वकालमें वृत्रासुरका वध होनेपर सम्पूर्ण देवताओं और महर्षियोंने इन्द्रको सब ओरसे घेर लिया था, उसी प्रकार पाण्डव भी युधिष्ठिरको चारों ओरसे घेरकर खड़े हो गये ।। ततोअन्यद् धनुरादाय तव पुत्र: प्रतापवान्
sañjaya uvāca | yathā vṛtravadhē dēvāḥ purā śakraṃ maharṣayaḥ | tathā kuntīkumarāṇāṃ mahān harṣaḥ samabhavat | yathā vṛtrāsuravadhe samastā dēvā maharṣayaś ca indraṃ sarvataḥ paryavārayann evaṃ pāṇḍavā api yudhiṣṭhiraṃ sarvataḥ parivārya tasthuḥ || tato 'nyad dhanur ādāya tava putraḥ pratāpavān ||
यथा वृत्रवधे देवाḥ पुरा शक्रं महर्षयः। तथा कुन्तीसुताः सर्वे परिवव्रुर्युधिष्ठिरम्॥ ततोऽन्यद् धनुरादाय तव पुत्रः प्रतापवान्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of rallying around rightful leadership: the Pāṇḍavas’ protective solidarity around Yudhiṣṭhira is likened to the gods and seers honoring Indra after a decisive victory, suggesting that victory should culminate in ordered support, restraint, and reaffirmation of dharmic authority rather than disorderly triumph.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍavas, delighted, surround Yudhiṣṭhira as a mark of protection and acclaim, using the mythic precedent of Indra being surrounded after Vṛtra’s death; immediately after, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (a Kaurava hero in the scene) takes up another bow, indicating the battle’s continuation.