Mahābhārata · Sanskrit Epic
The Death of Drona
द्रोणवधः
Mahābhārata · Drona Parva · Drauṇi-vāda (द्रोणपर्व) · Intermediate Sanskrit
Moral · धर्मः
अर्धसत्यम् अपि — आत्मनः धर्मम् क्षणायते।
ardhasatyam api — ātmanaḥ dharmam kṣaṇāyate.
“Even a half-truth wounds one's own dharma — even when necessity demands it.”
Drona — The Unconquerable Commander
भीष्मपतनानन्तरम् — द्रोणाचार्यः सेनापतिः नियुक्तः। द्रोणस्य नेतृत्वे कौरवसेना दुर्निवारा अभवत्। पञ्चदशे दिने — द्रोणः सर्वतः पाण्डवान् विनाशयति। युधिष्ठिरः चिन्तितः — "द्रोणम् कथं जयेम?" कृष्णः उपायम् अचिन्तयत् — "द्रोणस्य एकमेव दौर्बल्यम् — पुत्रे अश्वत्थामनि अपरिमितः स्नेहः। यदि अश्वत्थामा मृतः इति श्रृणोति — सः शस्त्रम् त्यक्ष्यति।" भीमः — "अश्वत्थामा नाम्ना एकः हस्ती अस्ति।"
After the fall of Bhishma — Dronacharya was appointed commander. Under Drona's leadership the Kaurava army became irresistible. On the fifteenth day — Drona was destroying the Pandavas on all sides. Yudhishthira was troubled: "How can we defeat Drona?" Krishna devised a plan: "Drona has only one weakness — his boundless love for his son Ashvatthama. If he hears that Ashvatthama is dead — he will put down his weapons." Bhima said: "There is an elephant named Ashvatthama."
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