Mahabharata · 7.67.16–17
॥
Devanāgarī
वर्जयन् निशितान् बाणान् द्रोणचापविनिःसृतान् ॥
किरीटमाली कौन्तेयो भोजानीकं न्यपातयत् ॥
सो ऽन्तरा कृतवर्माणं काम्बोजं च सुदक्षिणम् ॥
अभ्ययाद् वर्जयन् द्रोणं मैनाकम् इव पर्वतम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
varjayan niśitān bāṇān droṇacāpaviniḥsṛtān ||
kirīṭamālī kaunteyo bhojānīkaṃ nyapātayat ||
so 'ntarā kṛtavarmāṇaṃ kāmbojaṃ ca sudakṣiṇam ||
abhyayād varjayan droṇaṃ mainākam iva parvatam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
वर्जयन् निशितान् बाणान्varjayan niśitān bāṇānavoiding the sharp arrows; avoiding the sharp arrows
द्रोणचापविनिःसृतान्droṇacāpaviniḥsṛtānthat issued from Drona's bow; that issued from Drona's bow
किरीटमाली कौन्तेयःkirīṭamālī kaunteyaḥthe crowned, garlanded son of Kunti; the crowned son of Kunti
भोजानीकम् न्यपातयत्bhojānīkam nyapātayatcast down the array of the Bhojas; cast down the array of the Bhojas
सः अन्तरा कृतवर्माणम्saḥ antarā kṛtavarmāṇamhe, [passing] between Kritavarman; he, between Kritavarman
काम्बोजम् च सुदक्षिणम्kāmbojam ca sudakṣiṇamand the Kamboja, Sudakshina; and Sudakshina the Kamboja
अभ्ययात् वर्जयन् द्रोणम्abhyayāt varjayan droṇamrushed onward, avoiding Drona; rushed onward, avoiding Drona
मैनाकम् इव पर्वतम्mainākam iva parvatamas [one goes around] Mount Mainaka; as one goes around Mount Mainaka
Translation
Avoiding the sharp arrows that issued from Drona's bow, the crowned son of Kunti cast down the array of the Bhojas. Passing between Kritavarman and Sudakshina the Kamboja, he rushed onward, avoiding Drona, as one goes around Mount Mainaka.
Version
acca22b984bd · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The image "mainākam iva parvatam," "as [going around] Mount Mainaka," runs deep: Mainaka is the mountain that took refuge in the ocean from Indra; so too Arjuna does not crush Drona-the-mountain but goes around him. Telling is that he passes by the enemy's chief strength for the sake of his goal, crushing only what stands directly in his way. The verse teaches focus on the aim: the wise do not spend themselves on every obstacle but go around the unconquerable, as a traveler goes around a mountain, pressing on toward his destination. The vow concerning Jayadratha carries Arjuna past the greatest obstacle straight to the guilty one.