Shloka 18
संशप्तकगणान् गृह हतशेषान् किरीटिना । सुशर्मा प्राद्रवद् राजन् दृष्टवा द्रोणं निपातितम्,राजन! द्रोणाचार्यको रणभूमिमें गिराया गया देख अर्जुनके मारनेसे बचे हुए संशप्तकोंको साथ ले सुशर्मा वहाँसे भाग निकला
saṁśaptakagaṇān gṛhya hataśeṣān kirīṭinā | suśarmā prādravad rājan dṛṣṭvā droṇaṁ nipātitam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—राजन्, किरीटिना हतशेषान् संशप्तकगणान् गृह्य सुशर्मा द्रोणं निपातितं दृष्ट्वा तत्र प्राद्रवत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a war driven by vows and valor, the fall of a central moral and strategic authority (Droṇa) can dissolve resolve and expose the fragility of pride-based aggression; leadership carries ethical and psychological weight, and its collapse reshapes conduct on the battlefield.
After Droṇa is seen to have been brought down, Suśarmā gathers the surviving Saṁśaptakas—who had been heavily slain by Arjuna—and retreats, indicating a sudden reversal from their pledged confrontation with Arjuna to flight prompted by the shock of Droṇa’s fall.