Shloka 493
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
संनिवार्य ततः सर्वान् कुरूनप्यवधीद् बली । बलवान ट्रुपदपुत्रने अपने बाणोंकी वर्षसे द्रोणाचार्यकी बाणवृष्टिको रोककर समस्त कौरव सैनिकोंको मारना आरम्भ किया
saṃnivārya tataḥ sarvān kurūn apy avadhīd balī | balavān drupadaputro 'sya bāṇavarṣeṇa droṇācāryasya bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ rurodha, samastān kauravasainikān hantum ārabdhavān |
सञ्जय उवाच—ततः स बली सर्वान् संनिवार्य कुरूनप्यवधीद्। द्रुपदपुत्रो बाणवर्षेण द्रोणस्य बाणवृष्टिं निरुध्य कौरवसैन्यं जघान।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence and the duty of a warrior (kṣatriya-dharma) can intensify conflict: the ability to counter an opponent’s force becomes a means to expand destruction. It invites reflection on the ethical burden of victory when skill is used not merely for defense but for large-scale slaughter.
Sañjaya describes Drupada’s son (Dṛṣṭadyumna) countering Droṇa’s arrow-rain with his own missile-shower, successfully checking Droṇa’s attack. Having gained the upper hand, he begins killing the Kaurava soldiers broadly across the battlefield.