Shloka 8
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
ततः पुण्याहघोषेण स्वस्तिवादस्वनेन च । संस्तवैर्गीतशब्दैश्व सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्,पुण्याहवाचन, स्वस्तिवाचन, सूत, मागध और वन्दीजनोंके स्तोत्र, गीत तथा श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंक जय-जयकारके शब्दसे एवं नाचनेवाली स्त्रियोंके नृत्यसे द्रोणाचार्यका विधिवत् सत्कार करके कौरवोंने यह मान लिया कि अब पाण्डव पराजित हो गये
tataḥ puṇyāhaghoṣeṇa svastivādasvanena ca | saṁstavair gītaśabdaiś ca sūtamāgadhavandīnām, puṇyāhavācana-svastivācana-sūta-māgadha-vandijanānāṁ stotra-gīta-tathā śreṣṭha-brāhmaṇānāṁ jaya-jayakāra-śabdaiḥ evaṁ nācanevālī-strīṇāṁ nṛtyena droṇācāryaṁ vidhivat satkṛtya kauravaiḥ idaṁ manyata—idānīṁ pāṇḍavāḥ parājitāḥ
सञ्जय उवाच—ततः पुण्याहघोषैः स्वस्तिवादस्वनैश्च, सूतमागधवन्दिनां संस्तवैर्गीतशब्दैश्च, पुण्याहवाचनैः स्वस्तिवाचनैश्च, श्रेष्ठब्राह्मणानां जयजयकारनिनादैश्च, नर्तकीनां नृत्यैश्च—द्रोणाचार्यं विधिवत् सत्कृत्य कौरवाः मनसा मेनिरे, ‘इदानीं पाण्डवाः पराजितप्रायाः’ इति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how public ritual, praise, and victory-acclamations can create an atmosphere of certainty and triumph, yet such confidence may be premature. Ethically, it cautions against mistaking ceremonial celebration and collective enthusiasm for true moral or strategic victory.
After installing Droṇa as commander, the Kauravas perform a formal, auspicious reception with blessings, hymns, songs, and dances. Buoyed by this grand honoring of Droṇa, they assume the Pāṇḍavas are effectively already defeated.