हत प्रहरताभीता विध्यत व्यवकृन्तत ॥
इत्य् आसीत् तुमुलः शब्दः शोणाश्वस्य रथं प्रति ॥
द्रोणस् तु परमक्रुद्धो वायव्यास्त्रेण संयुगे ॥
व्यधमत् तान् यथा वायुर् मेघान् इव दुरत्ययः ॥
ते हन्यमाना द्रोणेन पाञ्चालाः प्राद्रवन् भयात् ॥
पश्यतो भीमसेनस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनः ॥
ततः किरीटी भीमश् च सहसा संन्यवर्तताम् ॥
महता रथवंशेन परिगृह्य बलं तव ॥
hata praharatābhītā vidhyata vyavakṛntata ||
ity āsīt tumulaḥ śabdaḥ śoṇāśvasya rathaṃ prati ||
droṇas tu paramakruddho vāyavyāstreṇa saṃyuge ||
vyadhamat tān yathā vāyur meghān iva duratyayaḥ ||
te hanyamānā droṇena pāñcālāḥ prādravan bhayāt ||
paśyato bhīmasenasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ ||
tataḥ kirīṭī bhīmaś ca sahasā saṃnyavartatām ||
mahatā rathavaṃśena parigṛhya balaṃ tava ||
"Smite, strike, without fear! Pierce, hew!" -- such was the thunderous clamor near the chariot of the Red-Horsed One [Drona]. And Drona, enraged to the utmost, with the weapon of Vayu in that clash scattered them, as the irresistible wind scatters clouds. Struck down by Drona, the Panchalas fled in terror before the eyes of Bhimasena and the great-souled son of Pritha. Then the Crowned One and Bhima suddenly wheeled about, and with a mighty array of chariots enveloped your army.
7223a48b9b9e · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:40:45 PM UTC
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Drona alone turns the tide of battle: with the "weapon of Vayu" he scatters the Panchalas as wind scatters clouds -- and they flee before the eyes of the two greatest warriors, powerless to hold their own. It is telling that Arjuna and Bhima do not chase after their own fleeing men but at once turn and encircle the enemy host: the true warrior wastes no strength reproaching those who retreat, but carries the blow where it will decide the outcome. The verse teaches that the mastery of a single champion can break the onrush of many, and so against such a man one stands not with numbers but with a counter-design.