Shloka 38

अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः

Devanagari script

तथा द्रौपदिना द्रोणो न्यस्तसर्वायुधो युधि । युक्तयोगो महेष्वास: शरैरबहुभिराचित:

Transliteration

tathā draupadinā droṇo nyasta-sarvāyudho yudhi | yukta-yogo maheṣvāsaḥ śarair abahubhir ācitaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩波罗耶那说：同样，在战斗正酣之际，德罗那——被德鲁帕达之子夺去一切兵器——仍以大弓手之姿屹立，心神如瑜伽般自持而安定，却也被无数箭矢所覆。此景昭示：纵是最强的战士，一旦被相称的对手所制，也必须承受战争无情推进的后果；技艺、克制与痛苦在其中交织。

Word by Word

तथाthus, likewise

द्रौपदिनाby (Dhrishtadyumna) the son of Drupada

द्रोणःDrona

न्यस्तlaid down, set aside

सर्वall

आयुधःweapons

युधिin battle

युक्तyoked, engaged, intent

योगःconcentration, discipline

महाgreat

इष्वासःbowman, archer

शरैःwith arrows

अबहुभिःnot many, few

आचितःcovered, filled, heaped

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa

Draupadiṇa (son of Draupada, Dhṛṣṭadyumna)

arrows (śara)

weapons (āyudha)

battlefield (yudhi)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined composure amid crisis: even when disarmed and wounded, a warrior may remain 'yukta-yoga'—mentally integrated and steady. Ethically, it points to the inevitability of consequences in war and the ideal of restraint and inner control even under extreme violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Droṇa on the battlefield after being rendered weaponless by Draupada’s son (Dhṛṣṭadyumna). Though famed as a great archer, Droṇa is now covered with many arrows, indicating he is being overwhelmed or severely pressed in combat.