Mahabharata 7.21.13 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 13

द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping

Devanagari script

संछाद्यमानं समरे द्रोणं दृष्टया महारथम्‌ । चुक्ुशु: पाण्डवा राजन्‌ वस्त्राणि दुधुवुश्च ह

Transliteration

sañchādyamānaṃ samare droṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāratham | cukruśuḥ pāṇḍavā rājan vastrāṇi dudhuvuś ca ha ||

Translation

三阇耶说：大王啊！见大车战士德罗那在战场中被箭雨层层覆盖，般度军众齐声呐喊，挥动衣袍以示欢呼。

Word by Word

• संछाद्यमानम्: being covered/veiled
• संछाद्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सं-छाद् (धातु) / छाद्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Passive, शानच् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• द्रोणम्: Drona
• द्रोणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (अव्यय-भाव), Active

• महारथम्: the great chariot-warrior
• महारथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चुक्रुशुः: they shouted/roared
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, Active

• पाण्डवाः: the Pandavas (their men)
• पाण्डवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वस्त्राणि: garments/cloths
• वस्त्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• दुधुवुः: they shook/waved
• Type: Verb
• Root: धू (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Plural, Active

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Pāṇḍavas (their army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights battlefield psychology: collective courage and visible success against a formidable opponent can lift an army’s morale. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma in war—valor, endurance, and the communal spirit of soldiers responding to shifts in advantage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Droṇa, a supreme warrior, is seen being overwhelmed by volleys of arrows. Interpreting this as a favorable moment, the Pāṇḍava troops shout loudly and wave their garments in excitement and encouragement.