Mahabharata 7.13.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 5
Droṇa’s sweeping assault and the Abhimanyu–Jayadratha close-quarters episode (द्रोणस्य भीषणव्यचरितम् / सौभद्र-जयद्रथ-संनिपातः)
यथा तन्न भवेत् सत्यं तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । सान्तर हि प्रतिज्ञातं द्रोणेनामित्रकर्षिणा
sañjaya uvāca | yathā tan na bhavet satyaṃ tathā nītir vidhīyatām | sāntaraṃ hi pratijñātaṃ droṇenāmitrakarṣiṇā | āptair āśu parijñātaṃ bhāradvājacikīrṣitam |
سنجے نے کہا—“اے راجن! ایسی تدبیر اختیار کیجیے کہ درون کی وہ قسم سچ نہ ہونے پائے۔ دشمنوں کو کچلنے والے درون نے واقعی ایک خاص ‘فاصلہ/استثنا’ رکھ کر عہد کیا ہے؛ اور بھاردواج کے بیٹے کا ارادہ ہمارے قابلِ اعتماد لوگوں نے فوراً معلوم کر لیا ہے۔”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti (prudent statecraft) in response to an opponent’s vow: when an adversary’s intention is known—especially a pledge made with a strategic ‘reservation’—one should craft counter-measures that prevent its fulfillment, balancing foresight, intelligence-gathering, and ethical responsibility in war.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Drona has taken a qualified vow and that Drona’s intended action has been quickly learned through trusted informants; therefore, counsel is sought on how to ensure that Drona’s plan does not succeed.
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