दुर्योधनश् च विंशत्या शकुनिश् चापि पञ्चभिः ॥
पाञ्चाल्यं त्वरिताविध्यन् सर्व एव महारथाः ॥
स विद्धः सप्तभिर् वीरैर् द्रोणत्राणार्थम् आहवे ॥
सर्वान् असंभ्रमाद् राजन् प्रत्यविध्यत् त्रिभिस् त्रिभिः ॥
द्रोणं द्रौणिं च कर्णं च विव्याध तव चात्मजम् ॥
ते विद्ध्वा धन्विना तेन धृष्टद्युम्नं पुनर् मृधे ॥
विव्यधुः पञ्चभिस् तूर्णम् एकैको रथिनां वरः ॥
duryodhanaś ca viṃśatyā śakuniś cāpi pañcabhiḥ ||
pāñcālyaṃ tvaritāvidhyan sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||
sa viddhaḥ saptabhir vīrair droṇatrāṇārtham āhave ||
sarvān asaṃbhramād rājan pratyavidhyat tribhis tribhiḥ ||
droṇaṃ drauṇiṃ ca karṇaṃ ca vivyādha tava cātmajam ||
te viddhvā dhanvinā tena dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ punar mṛdhe ||
vivyadhuḥ pañcabhis tūrṇam ekaiko rathināṃ varaḥ ||
Duryodhana with twenty, and Shakuni with five — all the great chariot-warriors swiftly pierced the man of Panchala. He, pierced by seven heroes for Drona's protection in battle, without wavering, O king, pierced them all in return, three apiece: Drona, Drauni, and Karna he pierced, and also your son [Duryodhana]. They, pierced by that bowman, pierced Dhrishtadyumna again in the clash, each of them, the best of chariot-warriors, swiftly with five.
0b2e7cfdb4e4 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Seven of the greatest warriors strike at one, and he, "without wavering," answers each of them: solitary steadfastness against a multitude. It is telling that Dhrishtadyumna, beset on every side, is not overtaken by confusion. The verse teaches that true courage is tested when surrounded: when enemies press from every side, the one who wavers perishes, while the one calm in spirit finds an answer for each; and composure amid overwhelming odds is the highest measure of a warrior's strength.