Mahabharata 7.96.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 96, Shloka 22
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
नचाहं शीघ्रयाने5द्य समर्थो वयसान्वित: । सेनामुखे च पार्थानामेतद् बलमुपस्थितम्
sañjaya uvāca |
na cāhaṃ śīghrayāne 'dya samartho vayasa-anvitaḥ |
senāmukhe ca pārthānām etad balaṃ upasthitam |
tvaran ekaratheṇaiva sametya droṇam abravīt |
“నేను వయస్సుతో భారమైపోయాను; అందువల్ల ఈ రోజు వేగంగా రథం నడపగల శక్తి నాకు లేదు. పైగా ఇక్కడ సేన ముందుభాగంలో పార్థుల ఈ మహాబలం నిలిచి ఉంది.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a practical ethical insight from the battlefield: leadership and decision-making are constrained by human limits (age, capacity, fear), and when morale collapses, rulers seek authoritative counsel. It implicitly warns that strategy without steadiness and self-mastery becomes reactive, driven by panic rather than discernment.
After Arjuna’s aggressive advance and the resulting disarray in the Kaurava forces, Duryodhana rushes alone in a chariot to Droṇa to seek guidance. The quoted speech expresses inability to act swiftly due to age and points to the Pāṇḍava force standing at the battle-front, setting up Duryodhana’s urgent appeal to Droṇa.
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