Shloka 383
धृतराष्ट्रस्य मूर्च्छा तथा द्रोणविषयकप्रश्नाः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Fainting and Questions Concerning Droṇa
के नु पश्चादवर्तन्त गच्छन्तो दुर्गमां गतिम् कौन-कौनसे वीर उस समय निकटसे द्रोणाचार्यकी रक्षा करते हुए उनके आगे रहकर युद्ध करते थे और कौन-कौन योद्धा दुर्गम मार्गपर पैर बढ़ाते हुए उनके पीछे रहकर रक्षा करते थे?
ke nu paścād avartanta gacchanto durgamāṃ gatim
के नु पश्चादवर्तन्त गच्छन्तो दुर्गमां गतिम्। तदा के के वीराः द्रोणाचार्यं परितः रक्षन्तः पुरतः स्थित्वा युध्यन्ते स्म, के च दुर्गमां गतिं गच्छन्तः पश्चात्स्थित्वा तस्य रक्षां चक्रुः?
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic dimension of warfare: protecting one’s commander is a defined responsibility, requiring disciplined allocation of vanguard and rear-guard roles. It underscores accountability in collective action—who took which duty in a dangerous advance.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the Kaurava battle arrangement around Droṇa: as the army moved through a perilous tactical course, he wants to know which warriors stayed behind as the rear-guard (and, by implication from the accompanying sense, who fought in front) to safeguard Droṇācārya.