Shloka 16
आचार्य केन कालेन पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकान् | निहन्या इति तं द्रोण: प्रत्युवाच हसन्निव,संजय बोले--राजेन्द्र! भीष्मका यह वचन सुनकर राजा दुर्योधनने आंगिरस ब्राह्मणोंमें सबसे श्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्यससे पूछा--“आचार्य/ आप कितने समयमें पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरके सैनिकोंका संहार कर सकते हैं?” यह प्रश्न सुनकर द्रोणाचार्य हँसते हुए-से बोले --
ācārya kena kālena pāṇḍuputrasya sainikān | nihanyā iti taṃ droṇaḥ pratyuvāca hasann iva ||
Sabi ni Sañjaya: “Tinanong ni Haring Duryodhana si Droṇa: ‘Guro, sa gaano katagal ninyo malilipol ang mga kawal ng anak ni Pāṇḍu?’ At si Droṇa’y sumagot na wari’y nakangiti.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of war-counsel: a ruler’s impatience for victory reduces human lives to a timetable, while the teacher’s smile suggests awareness of the ethical weight and the limits of mere martial calculation within dharma.
After Bhishma’s statement, Duryodhana turns to Drona and asks how quickly he could annihilate the Pandava forces (especially those of Yudhishthira). Drona responds, ‘as if smiling,’ setting up his forthcoming answer about capability, conditions, and the realities of the coming conflict.