Mahabharata 7.13.17 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 17
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
श्रुत्वा शड्खस्य निर्घोषं पाण्डवस्य महौजस: । त्वदीयेष्वप्यनीकेषु वादित्राण्यभिजषध्निरे
śrutvā śaṅkhasya nirghoṣaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahaujasaḥ | tvadīyeṣv apy anīkeṣu vāditrāṇy abhijaṣadhnire | āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvāja-cikīrṣitam ||
สัญชัยกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระราชา ครั้นได้ยินเสียงสังข์อันกึกก้องของปาณฑพผู้ทรงเดชแล้ว แม้ในกองทัพของพระองค์ก็มีการประโคมวาทย์ศึกขึ้นด้วย และด้วยสายลับผู้ไว้วางใจ ก็ทราบโดยฉับพลันว่าบุตรแห่งภารทวาชะ คือโทรณะ มุ่งหมายจะกระทำสิ่งใด”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights two complementary realities of warfare and governance: (1) morale and signaling—one side’s conch-blast prompts a matching response in the opposing ranks; and (2) discernment through reliable information—wise leadership does not rely on noise alone but quickly verifies an enemy commander’s intention through trusted agents.
Sañjaya reports that the mighty Pāṇḍava’s conch resounds; in response, even the Kaurava divisions sound their own instruments. At the same time, the Pāṇḍava side promptly learns—through dependable informants—what Droṇa (called Bhāradvāja) is planning to do, namely his tactical intention in the ongoing battle.
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