Mahabharata · 7.20.10–11
॥
Devanāgarī
द्रोणस् तु शरवर्षेण छाद्यमानो महारथः ॥
वेगं चक्रे महावेगः क्रोधाद् उद्वृत्य चक्षुषी ॥
ततः सत्यजितश् चापं छित्त्वा द्रोणो वृकस्य च ॥
षड्भिः ससूतं सहयं शरैर् द्रोणो ऽवधीद् वृकम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
droṇas tu śaravarṣeṇa chādyamāno mahārathaḥ ||
vegaṃ cakre mahāvegaḥ krodhād udvṛtya cakṣuṣī ||
tataḥ satyajitaś cāpaṃ chittvā droṇo vṛkasya ca ||
ṣaḍbhiḥ sasūtaṃ sahayaṃ śarair droṇo 'vadhīd vṛkam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
द्रोणःdroṇaḥDrona
तुtubut; —
शरवर्षेणśaravarṣeṇawith a shower of arrows; with a shower of arrows
छाद्यमानःchādyamānaḥbeing covered [being overwhelmed]; being showered
महारथःmahārathaḥthe great warrior; the great car-warrior
वेगम् चक्रेvegam cakremade a surge [lunged forward]; [furiously] lunged forward
महावेगःmahāvegaḥswift [furiously fast]; [he,] furiously swift
क्रोधात्krodhātfrom anger; in wrath
उद्वृत्यudvṛtyarolling [bulging]; rolling
चक्षुषीcakṣuṣīhis eyes [both eyes]; with his eyes
ततःtataḥthen; thereupon
सत्यजितःsatyajitaḥSatyajit's; [of] Satyajit
चापम्cāpambow; bow
छित्त्वाchittvāhaving severed [broken]; having shattered
द्रोणःdroṇaḥDrona
वृकस्यvṛkasyaVrika's; [and of] Vrika
चcaand; also
षड्भिःṣaḍbhiḥwith six [arrows]; with six [arrows]
ससूतम्sasūtamtogether with the charioteer; [together] with the charioteer
सहयम्sahayamwith the horses; and with the horses
शरैःśaraiḥwith arrows; with arrows
द्रोणःdroṇaḥDrona
अवधीत्avadhītkilled [slew]; slew
वृकम्vṛkamVrika; Vrika
Translation
But Drona, the great car-warrior, showered with a rain of arrows, furiously swift, in wrath, rolling his eyes, lunged forward fiercely. Then, having shattered the bows of Satyajit and Vrika, Drona slew Vrika, together with his charioteer and horses, with six arrows.
Version
11c846d07b79 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:00:04 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Until now Drona seemed to have been merely enduring, bearing the rain of arrows — but, once enraged, in a single surge he crushes both opponents: six arrows lay Vrika low together with his charioteer and horses. Thus the difference between an apparent setback and a true defeat reveals itself: the great one had only granted his foe a brief triumph before showing his true measure. It is notable that his wrath, once it breaks through, acts not in haste but with crushing precision. The verse teaches that not every retreat of the strong is weakness — sometimes he is merely holding back; that one who triumphs over him prematurely risks paying dearly; and that true might, when it finally unfolds, settles at once what had seemed a protracted contest.