Shloka 15
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
मद्रास्त्रिगर्ता: साम्बष्ठा: प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवा: । शिबय: शूरसेनाश्व शूद्राश्न मलदै: सह
madrāḥ strigartāḥ sāmbaṣṭhāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ | śibayaḥ śūrasenāś ca śūdrāś ca maladāḥ saha ||
सञ्जय उवाच—मद्रास्त्रिगर्ताः साम्बष्ठाः प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवाः। शिबयः शूरसेनाश्च शूद्राश्च मलदैः सह॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
By listing many peoples drawn into the battle, the verse highlights the expansive human reach of royal decisions in war: a ruler’s pursuit of victory implicates entire communities, intensifying the ethical burden (dharma) of choosing conflict and sustaining it.
Sañjaya continues his report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra by enumerating contingents present in the war-host—naming various peoples and regional groups who have assembled together as part of the forces engaged in the Drona Parva battles.