Shloka 66
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
यथा दुर्योधन: काम नेम॑ द्रोणादवाप्रुयात् । “महाधनुर्धर अर्जुन! वह अन्तर उन्होंने तुम्हींपर डाल रखा है। अतः महाबाहो! आज तुम मेरे समीप रहकर ही युद्ध करो, जिससे दुर्योधन द्रोणाचार्यसे अपने इस मनोरथको पूर्ण न करा सके'
sañjaya uvāca | yathā duryodhanaḥ kāmaṁ naiva droṇād avāpnuyāt | mahādhanuṣdhara arjuna! vah antar hī unhoṁne tumhīṁpar ḍāl rakhā hai | ataḥ mahābāho! āja tvaṁ mama samīpe rahkar hī yuddha karo, yasmāt duryodhanaḥ droṇācāryāt asya manorathasya pūrtiṁ na kuryāt |
सञ्जय उवाच—यथा दुर्योधनः कामं द्रोणाद् न समवाप्नुयात्। महाधनुर्धरार्जुन, स हि त्वयि मनो निबबन्ध; तस्मान्महाबाहो मम समीपे स्थित्वैव अद्य युध्यस्व, यथा तस्य मनोरथो द्रोणेन न सम्पद्येत।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention and strategy shape outcomes in war: a leader’s plan (Duryodhana’s) can be thwarted by vigilance, proximity to allies, and timely tactical choices. Ethically, it underscores responsibility in action—preventing an unjust aim from being fulfilled through a powerful agent (Drona).
Sanjaya reports that Duryodhana has directed Drona’s focus toward Arjuna as a key target. The counsel is that Arjuna should fight while staying close (to his ally/commander in context), so that Duryodhana’s objective—achieved via Drona—does not succeed.