Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 31

Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्नस्ततो द्रोणमभ्यद्रवत भारत । तस्य द्रोण: सुसंक्रुद्ध: परासुकरणं दृढम्‌

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭadyumnas tato droṇam abhyadravat bhārata | tasya droṇaḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ parāsukaraṇaṃ dṛḍham ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: Pagkatapos, sumugod nang tuwid si Dhṛṣṭadyumna kay Droṇa, O Bhārata. Si Droṇa, nagngangalit sa kanya, ay tumindig na matatag—di matinag at may matibay na pasyang ipataw ang kamatayan sa kanyang kaaway.

Word by Word

• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Dhrishtadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• द्रोणम्: Drona (as object)
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यद्रवत्: ran towards/charged at
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (द्रवति)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तस्य: of him/of that (Dhrishtadyumna)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• द्रोणः: Drona
• द्रोणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुसंक्रुद्धः: highly enraged
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसंक्रुद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परासुकरणम्: the act of making (him) lifeless; killing
• परासुकरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: परासुकरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दृढम्: firmly/steadfast (resolve)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• धृष्टद्युम्न (Dhṛṣṭadyumna)
• द्रोण (Droṇa)
• भारत (Bhārata/Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how anger and personal hostility can harden into a fixed intention to kill, even within the framework of kṣatriya duty. It invites reflection on the ethical danger of letting righteous duty be overtaken by wrath and vendetta.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛṣṭadyumna rushes to engage Droṇa directly. Droṇa, provoked and furious, becomes steadfastly determined to destroy him, signaling an intense duel shaped by longstanding enmity and battlefield obligation.