Shloka 18
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
मानिनं समरे दृप्तं कृतवैरं महारथम्
māninaṃ samare dṛptaṃ kṛtavairaṃ mahāratham
وہ ایک خودپسند، میدانِ جنگ میں سرکش، دشمنی کو پختہ کر چکا، اور عظیم مہارَتھی تھا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner dispositions—pride, overconfidence, and entrenched enmity—shape the moral weight of warfare. Martial excellence (mahāratha) is not ethically neutral; when joined to arrogance and deliberate hostility, it becomes a warning about the dangers of ego and feud in dharmic conflict.
Sañjaya is characterizing a warrior in the Kurukṣetra war, describing him as proud, battle-arrogant, committed to enmity, and of the highest fighting rank (mahāratha), setting the tone for the confrontation being reported to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.