Mahabharata 7.21.60 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 60
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
तस्मिन् हते राजपुत्रे पज्चालानां यशस्करे । हत द्रोणं हत द्रोणमित्यासीज्नि:स्वनो महान्
tasmin hate rājaputre pāñcālānāṃ yaśaskare | hata droṇaṃ hata droṇam ity āsīj niḥsvano mahān ||
तस्मिन् हते पाञ्चालानां यशस्करे राजपुत्रे, “हत द्रोणं, हत द्रोणम्” इति तत्र महान् निनादः समभवत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a single death in war can redirect collective intention and moral focus: the army’s cry to kill Droṇa shows the shift from general combat to targeting a pivotal leader, raising ethical questions about ends, means, and the escalation of violence in pursuit of victory.
After a renowned prince associated with the Pāñcālas is killed, a loud commotion breaks out on the battlefield. Warriors begin shouting repeatedly, “Kill Droṇa! Kill Droṇa!”, indicating an immediate push to bring down Droṇa as the decisive objective.
Ask anything about this verse
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.