द्रोणस् तु बहुधा विद्धो बृहत्क्षत्रेण मारिष ॥
असृजद् विशिखांस् तीक्ष्णान् केकयस्य रथं प्रति ॥
व्याकुलीकृत्य तं द्रोणो बृहत्क्षत्रं महारथम् ॥
व्यसृजत् सायकं तीक्ष्णं केकयं प्रति भारत ॥
स गाढविद्धस् तेनाशु महाराज स्तनान्तरे ॥
रथात् पुरुषशार्दूलः संभिन्नहृदयो ऽपतत् ॥
droṇas tu bahudhā viddho bṛhatkṣatreṇa māriṣa ||
asṛjad viśikhāṃs tīkṣṇān kekayasya rathaṃ prati ||
vyākulīkṛtya taṃ droṇo bṛhatkṣatraṃ mahāratham ||
vyasṛjat sāyakaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ kekayaṃ prati bhārata ||
sa gāḍhaviddhas tenāśu mahārāja stanāntare ||
rathāt puruṣaśārdūlaḥ saṃbhinnahṛdayo 'patat ||
And Drona, pierced many times by Brihatkshatra, O venerable one, let loose sharp arrows at the chariot of the Kekaya. Having thrown Brihatkshatra, the great warrior, into confusion, Drona let loose a sharp arrow at the Kekaya, O Bharata. He, deeply and swiftly pierced by it in the chest, O great king, the tiger among men, fell from his chariot with his heart pierced through.
d5779d6bb0ba · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:17:33 PM UTC
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The worthy Brihatkshatra falls, as many have before Drona: even an equal to the master meets his hour. It is telling that valor does not turn aside death, only makes it glorious. The verse teaches that even the greatest courage is mortal: the outcome is decided not by skill alone but by the appointed span, and the noble one who falls in equal combat gains not victory but imperishable honor.