Mahabharata 7.96.23 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 96, Shloka 23

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरश्न मे ग्राह्मो मिषतां सर्वधन्विनाम्‌ । एवं मया प्रतिज्ञातं क्षत्रमध्ये महाभुज

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yudhiṣṭhiraś ca me grāhyo miṣatāṁ sarva-dhanvinām | evaṁ mayā pratijñātaṁ kṣatra-madhye mahā-bhuja, tvarann eka-rathenaiva sametya droṇam abravīt |

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—రాజా! “సర్వ ధనుర్ధరులు చూస్తుండగానే యుధిష్ఠిరుణ్ని నేనే పట్టుకుంటాను”—అని నేను క్షత్రియుల మధ్య ప్రతిజ్ఞ చేశాను. ఆపై యుద్ధరంగంలో తన సైన్యం అంతా గందరగోళంగా చెదిరిపోతున్నదని చూసి, నీ కుమారుడు దుర్యోధనుడు ఒక్క రథంలోనే తొందరగా ద్రోణాచార్యుని దగ్గరకు వెళ్లి, కలసి ఇలా అన్నాడు—“మహాబాహో! క్షత్రియుల మధ్య నేను చేసిన ప్రతిజ్ఞ ఇదే—సర్వ ధనుర్ధరుల ఎదుట యుధిష్ఠిరుణ్ని బంధిస్తాను.”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• मे: of me / my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• ग्राह्यः: to be seized / capturable
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, gerundive (तव्य/यत् sense), ‘to be seized’

• मिषताम्: of those looking on
• मिषताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: मिष्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural, present active participle used substantively

• सर्व: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धन्विनाम्: of archers
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रतिज्ञातम्: promised / vowed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ज्ञा
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, past passive participle

• क्षत्र: among kṣatriyas
• क्षत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महाभुज: O mighty-armed one
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभुज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• त्वरन्: hastening
• त्वरन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्वर्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, present active participle

• एक: with one (single)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रथेन: by a chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed / only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समेत्य: having approached / meeting
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-इ
• Form: absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• द्रोणम्: Droṇa
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said / spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied addressee: rājan)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Duryodhana
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• archers/bowmen (sarva-dhanvin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a warrior’s public vow (pratijñā) becomes a binding force in kṣatriya culture—driving action even amid chaos. It also points to the ethical pressure of reputation in war: the desire to fulfill an oath can intensify conflict and narrow moral judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the battle situation deteriorates for the Kauravas, Duryodhana rushes alone to Droṇa and reminds him of his pledge: to capture Yudhiṣṭhira in full view of the archers. He seeks Droṇa’s support to accomplish this objective.