Mahabharata 7.5.17 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 17
Droṇācāryaḥ Senāpatiḥ
Droṇa Appointed Commander-in-Chief
अयं च सर्वयोधानामाचार्य: स्थविरो गुरु: । युक्त: सेनापति: कर्तु द्रोण: शस्त्रभृतां वर:
ayaṃ ca sarvayodhānām ācāryaḥ sthaviro guruḥ | yuktaḥ senāpatiṃ kartuṃ droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ||
ท่านผู้นี้เป็นอาจารย์ของนักรบทั้งปวง เป็นครูผู้ชราภาพและน่าเคารพยิ่ง ฉะนั้น โทฺรณะผู้เลิศในหมู่นักรบผู้ถือศัสตรา จึงเหมาะสมที่สุดที่จะได้รับแต่งตั้งเป็นแม่ทัพในกาลนี้
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames military leadership as grounded in recognized authority: the commander should be one who is a proven master of arms and also worthy of obedience due to being the common ācārya and elder guru. The verse highlights how social-religious reverence (guru, sthavira) is used to legitimize command in a dharmic polity, even amid war.
In the Drona Parva, after the need arises to choose a new commander for the Kaurava forces, Karna speaks in support of Droṇa. He emphasizes Droṇa’s status as the preceptor of the warriors, his seniority, and his excellence in weaponry, concluding that Droṇa is the proper person to be made senāpati.
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