एवम् उक्तस् ततो द्रोणो भीमेनोत्सृज्य तद् धनुः ॥
सर्वाण्य् अस्त्राणि धर्मात्मा हातुकामो ऽभ्यभाषत ॥
कर्ण कर्ण महेष्वास कृप दुर्योधनेति च ॥
संग्रामे क्रियतां यत्नो ब्रवीम्य् एष पुनः पुनः ॥
पाण्डवेभ्यः शिवं वो ऽस्तु शस्त्रम् अभ्युत्सृजाम्य् अहम् ॥
इति तत्र महाराज प्राक्रोशद् द्रौणिम् एव च ॥
उत्सृज्य च रणे शस्त्रं रथोपस्थे निवेश्य च ॥
अभयं सर्वभूतानां प्रददौ योगयुक्तवान् ॥
evam uktas tato droṇo bhīmenotsṛjya tad dhanuḥ ||
sarvāṇy astrāṇi dharmātmā hātukāmo 'bhyabhāṣata ||
karṇa karṇa maheṣvāsa kṛpa duryodhaneti ca ||
saṃgrāme kriyatāṃ yatno bravīmy eṣa punaḥ punaḥ ||
pāṇḍavebhyaḥ śivaṃ vo 'stu śastram abhyutsṛjāmy aham ||
iti tatra mahārāja prākrośad drauṇim eva ca ||
utsṛjya ca raṇe śastraṃ rathopasthe niveśya ca ||
abhayaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ pradadau yogayuktavān ||
Thus addressed by Bhima, Drona then, casting aside that bow and all his weapons, the righteous-souled one, wishing to lay them down, spoke: "Karna, Karna, great archer, Kripa, Duryodhana! Let effort be made in battle -- I say this again and again; may good fortune come to you from the Pandavas; I lay down my weapon." Thus, O great king, he called out also to Drauni [Ashvatthaman]; and, having laid down his weapon in battle, placing it upon the seat of his chariot, he granted fearlessness to all beings, having entered into yoga.
e15e758dc682 · published Jul 19, 2026, 5:08:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Having laid down his weapon, Drona grants "fearlessness to all beings" -- abhayam sarvabhutanam -- the highest gift, one that turns a warrior into a sage. It is significant that his final words are concern for others -- "may good fortune be yours" -- and only then does he withdraw into yoga, having renounced strife. The verse teaches that the summit of the path lies not in conquering an enemy but in relinquishing enmity; and one who, in his dying hour, grants safety to all living beings has already crossed beyond the field of battle and stepped onto the path of liberation.