Mahabharata 7.23.41 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 23, Shloka 41

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

जो पांचालोंके सेनापति हैं, जिन्होंने द्रोणाचार्यको अपना भाग निश्चित कर रखा था, उन धृष्टद्युम्नको कबूतरके समान रंगवाले घोड़ोंने युद्धभूमिमें पहुँचाया ।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | yo pāñcālānāṃ senāpatiḥ, yena droṇācāryaṃ svabhāgaḥ niścitaḥ kṛtaḥ, taṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ kapota-sadṛśa-varṇair aśvaiḥ raṇabhūmim prāpayām āsa || tam anvayāt satyadhṛtiḥ, saucitti-yuddha-durmadaḥ, śreṇimān, vasudānaś ca, kāśyasya putraś cābhibhūḥ ||

Translation

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า—ม้าสีดุจนกพิราบพาแม่ทัพปัญจาล ธฤษฏทยุมน์ เข้าสู่สมรภูมิ แล้วเบื้องหลังเขา สัตยธฤติ ยุทธทุรมทบุตรแห่งสุจิตติ ศเรณิมาน วสุทาน และอภिभู บุตรแห่งกษัตริย์กาศี ก็ตามมา

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वयात्: followed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-या (धातु: या)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्यधृतिः: Satyadhṛti (name)
• सत्यधृतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: सत्यधृति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सौचित्तिः: Saucitti (son of Sucitti)
• सौचित्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun (patronymic/proper name)
• Root: सौचित्ति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युद्धदुर्मदः: Yuddhadurmada (name)
• युद्धदुर्मदः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: युद्धदुर्मद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रेणिमान्: Śreṇimān (name)
• श्रेणिमान्: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: श्रेणिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसुदानः: Vasudāna (name)
• वसुदानः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: वसुदान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काश्यस्य: of Kāśya / of the Kāśi king
• काश्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun (proper name/tribal designation)
• Root: काश्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अभिभूः: Abhibhū (name)
• अभिभूः: Karta
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: अभिभू
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Panchalas (Pañcāla)
• Dhrishtadyumna (Dhṛṣṭadyumna)
• Drona (Droṇācārya)
• Horses (aśvāḥ) of dove-like color
• Battlefield (raṇabhūmi)
• Satyadhriti (Satyadhṛti)
• Suchitti (Saucitti/Sucitti)
• Yuddhadurmada (Yuddha-durmada)
• Shreniman (Śreṇimān)
• Vasudana (Vasudāna)
• Kashi (Kāśī)
• Abhibhu (Abhibhū), son of the king of Kashi

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intention and destiny operate within dharma-yuddha: leaders act from firm resolve (niścaya), and that resolve draws others into its moral and practical consequences. It also reflects the Mahabharata’s ethical tension—personal vows and fated outcomes unfold through collective participation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes Dhrishtadyumna, commander of the Panchalas, arriving on the battlefield in a chariot drawn by dove-colored horses. He is followed by named allied warriors—Satyadhriti, Yuddhadurmada (son of Suchitti), Shreniman, Vasudana, and Abhibhu of Kashi—indicating the formation and advance of the Panchala-led contingent.