Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
आर्जुनिं श्रुतकीर्ति तु द्रौपदेयं महारथम् । द्रोणायाभिमुखं यान्तं दौःशासनिरवारयत्
ārjuniṁ śrutakīrtiṁ tu draupadeyaṁ mahāratham | droṇāyābhimukhaṁ yāntaṁ dauḥśāsanir avārayat ||
आर्जुनिं श्रुतकीर्तिं तु द्रौपदेयं महारथम्। द्रोणायाभिमुखं यान्तं दौःशासनिरवारयत्॥
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic of duty and protection: warriors interpose themselves to defend a leader and to prevent an opponent’s direct assault. It also reflects how dharma in war often appears as competing obligations—valor and loyalty expressed through obstruction and counter-obstruction.
Śrutakīrti, identified as a Draupadeya and a great chariot-warrior, advances directly toward Droṇa. Duḥśāsana’s son confronts him and stops his forward movement, preventing him from reaching Droṇa.