Shloka 16
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
आचार्य केन कालेन पाण्डुपुत्रस्य सैनिकान् | निहन्या इति तं द्रोण: प्रत्युवाच हसन्निव
ācārya kena kālena pāṇḍuputrasya sainikān | nihanyā iti taṃ droṇaḥ pratyuvāca hasann iva ||
Sañjaya nói: “Vua Duryodhana hỏi Droṇa: ‘Thưa Đạo sư, trong bao lâu ngài có thể giết sạch quân sĩ của con trai Pāṇḍu?’ Nghe vậy, Droṇa đáp lại như thể đang mỉm cười.”
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.