ततो द्रोणं महेष्वासं गाड़ेयस्य प्रिये रतम्
tato droṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gāḍeyasya priye ratam
అప్పుడు సంజయుడు మహాధనుర్ధరుడైన ద్రోణుని వర్ణించాడు—గాడేయునకు ప్రియమైన కార్యంలో నిమగ్నుడై ఉన్నవాడని.
संजय उवाच
The line foregrounds how a warrior’s conduct in war is shaped by allegiance and commitment—being 'rata' (devoted/engaged) in what is 'priya' (dear) to an associated leader or cause—raising ethical reflection on loyalty as a driving force in dharmic and adharmic outcomes.
Sanjaya continues his battlefield narration by pointing out Droṇa, describing him as a mighty archer and indicating that he is actively engaged in pursuing what is dear to 'Gāḍeya', i.e., acting in alignment with that person’s favored aim or side in the conflict.