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Mahabharata · 7.66.7–8
॥
Дрона
Devanāgarī
एवम् उक्तस् तदाचार्यः प्रत्युवाच स्मयन्न् इव ॥
माम् अजित्वा न बीभत्सो शक्यो जेतुं जयद्रथः ॥
एतावद् उक्त्वा तं द्रोणः शरव्रातैर् अवाकिरत् ॥
सरथाश्वध्वजं तीक्ष्णैः प्रहसन् वै ससारथिम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
evam uktas tadācāryaḥ pratyuvāca smayann iva ||
mām ajitvā na bībhatso śakyo jetuṃ jayadrathaḥ ||
etāvad uktvā taṃ droṇaḥ śaravrātair avākirat ||
sarathāśvadhvajaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ prahasan vai sasārathim ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एवम् उक्तः तदा आचार्यःevam uktaḥ tadā ācāryaḥthus addressed, the teacher then; thus having heard, the teacher then
प्रत्युवाच स्मयन् इवpratyuvāca smayan ivaanswered, as if smiling; answered, as though smiling
माम् अजित्वा न बीभत्सोmām ajitvā na bībhatsowithout conquering me, o Bibhatsu; without conquering me, o Bibhatsu
शक्यः जेतुम् जयद्रथःśakyaḥ jetum jayadrathaḥJayadratha [cannot] be conquered; you cannot conquer Jayadratha
एतावत् उक्त्वा तम् द्रोणःetāvat uktvā tam droṇaḥhaving said only this, Drona; having said only this, Drona
शरव्रातैः अवाकिरत्śaravrātaiḥ avākiratshowered him with clouds of arrows; showered him with clouds of arrows
सरथाश्वध्वजम् तीक्ष्णैःsarathāśvadhvajam tīkṣṇaiḥwith sharp [arrows] — chariot, horses, and banner; with sharp [arrows] — chariot, horses, and banner
प्रहसन् वै ससारथिम्prahasan vai sasārathimlaughing, him together with his charioteer; laughing, him together with his charioteer
Translation
Thus addressed, the teacher then answered as if smiling: 'Without conquering me, o Bibhatsu, you cannot conquer Jayadratha.' Having said only this, Drona showered him with sharp clouds of arrows — chariot, horses, and banner — laughing, him together with his charioteer.
Version
0a1ff52af183 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona's answer — 'smayan iva,' 'as if smiling' — holds both love and duty. He does not reject his disciple, yet neither does he betray his own side: 'mām ajitvā na śakyaḥ jetuṃ jayadrathaḥ,' 'without conquering me, you will not conquer Jayadratha.' It is telling that the teacher, as it were, points out the way — through himself — and at once tests his disciple with arrows. The verse teaches the tragedy of duty that parts those who love one another: guru and disciple honor each other, yet are bound by different vows; and Drona's smile is the bitter seal of a situation where love cannot cancel the confrontation prescribed by dharma to each.