Mahabharata · 7.23.9–10
॥
Devanāgarī
तस्य सेनासमूहस्य मध्ये द्रोणः सुरक्षितः ॥
निहतः पार्षतेनाजौ किम् अन्यद् भागधेयतः ॥
मध्ये राज्ञां महाबाहुं सदा युद्धाभिनन्दिनम् ॥
सर्वास्त्रपारगं द्रोणं कथं मृत्युर् उपेयिवान् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tasya senāsamūhasya madhye droṇaḥ surakṣitaḥ ||
nihataḥ pārṣatenājau kim anyad bhāgadheyataḥ ||
madhye rājñāṃ mahābāhuṃ sadā yuddhābhinandinam ||
sarvāstrapāragaṃ droṇaṃ kathaṃ mṛtyur upeyivān ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तस्यtasyaof that; of that
सेनासमूहस्यsenāsamūhasyaof the mass of armies [the host of hosts]; of the host of hosts
मध्येmadhyein the midst; in the midst
द्रोणःdroṇaḥDrona
सुरक्षितःsurakṣitaḥwell guarded [securely protected]; securely protected
निहतःnihataḥkilled [slain]; slain
पार्षतेनpārṣatenaby Parshata [Dhrishtadyumna]; by Parshata
आजौājauin battle; in combat
किम् अन्यत्kim anyatwhat else; what else [indeed]
भागधेयतःbhāgadheyataḥfrom his lot [by the will of destiny]; if not from destiny
मध्येmadhyein the midst; in the midst
राज्ञाम्rājñāmof kings; of kings
महाबाहुम्mahābāhumthe mighty-armed; the mighty-armed
सदाsadāalways [invariably]; invariably
युद्धाभिनन्दिनम्yuddhābhinandinamwho rejoiced in battle [a lover of combat]; who rejoiced in the fray
सर्वास्त्रपारगम्sarvāstrapāragamwho had mastered all weapons [a master of all astras]; who had mastered all the arts of war
द्रोणम्droṇamDrona; Drona
कथम्kathamhow; how [indeed]
मृत्युःmṛtyuḥdeath; death
उपेयिवान्upeyivānovertook [came to]; overtook
Translation
In the midst of that host of hosts, securely protected Drona was slain by Parshata in combat — what else, if not from destiny? How did death overtake Drona, the mighty-armed, who always rejoiced in the fray, who had mastered all the arts of war, in the midst of kings?
Version
916db27ea838 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:11:21 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Dhritarashtra asks in bewilderment: how did death overtake Drona — master of every kind of weapon, securely guarded, surrounded by kings? And again he finds the answer in fate. Here the limit of human power reveals itself: neither skill, nor protection, nor a host of allies turns aside the appointed hour. It is telling that it was precisely around the mightiest that the greatest defense gathered — and yet it did not save him. The verse teaches that neither skill nor a multitude of guards protects against death; that even the greatest warrior is mortal like anyone else, and his hour will come amid the most secure protection; and that one who perceives this inevitability will not grow proud of his strength nor rely on protection, remembering that what is appointed will come to pass, however a man may guard himself.