Mahabharata 7.21.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्‌ हते महामात्रे पज्चालानां महारथे । अपायाज्जवनैरश्रैद्रोणात्‌ त्रस्तो युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

tasmin hate mahāmātre pāñcālānāṁ mahārathe | apāyāj javanair astrair droṇāt trasto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：当那位大将——般遮罗军的伟大车战勇士——被杀之后，坚守正法的由提施提罗也被恐惧所震，因德罗那以疾飞之兵器紧逼，便从他面前退却。此刻昭示：即便是崇尚克制的义王，也会被战争残酷的势头所迫，在更强的武力之前不得不后退。

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/time)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हते: when (he was) slain
• हते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महामात्रे: in/when the great minister/commander
• महामात्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पाञ्चालानाम्: of the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महारथे: in/when the great chariot-warrior
• महारथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अपायात्: departed/withdrew
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + या
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जवनैः: with swift
• जवनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जवन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्रैः: weapons/missiles
• अश्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• द्रोणात्: from Drona
• द्रोणात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• त्रस्तः: frightened
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रस्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāñcālas
• Droṇa
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• astras (weapons/missiles)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma in war: even a principled leader like Yudhiṣṭhira can be overwhelmed by circumstances, showing that righteousness must contend with fear, force, and the harsh realities of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a prominent Pāñcāla commander and great chariot-warrior is killed, Droṇa attacks fiercely with rapid astras. Yudhiṣṭhira, alarmed, withdraws from Droṇa’s assault.