Shloka 28
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
हते तस्मिन् महेष्वासे शरतल्पगते तथा । त्वयोक्ते पुरुषव्याप्र द्रोणो हवासीत् पुरःसर:,'पुरुषसिंह! उन महाधनुर्धर भीष्मके घायल होकर बाण-शय्यापर सो जानेके बाद तुम्हारे कहनेसे ही द्रोणाचार्य हमारी सेनाके अगुआ बनाये गये थे
hate tasmin maheṣvāse śaratālpagate tathā | tvayokte puruṣavyāghra droṇo hy āsīt puraḥsaraḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—हते तस्मिन् महेष्वासे शरतल्पगते तथा । त्वयोक्ते पुरुषव्याघ्र द्रोणो ह्यासीत् पुरःसरः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leadership in war shifts according to circumstance and counsel: after Bhīṣma’s fall, Droṇa is placed at the front by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s decision. It implicitly points to the ethical weight of royal instruction—choices made by the king shape the course of violence and its consequences.
Sañjaya reminds Dhṛtarāṣṭra that once Bhīṣma, the foremost Kaurava warrior, was brought down and lay on the arrow-bed, Droṇācārya was appointed to lead the Kaurava forces as the vanguard commander, and that this occurred at Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s urging.