What does Prabhupada mean when he refers to Drona’s leniency?
From: Apurva Pradhan
BG 1.3 : In the purport, Srila Prabhupada says “By this he wanted to point out also that she should not be SIMILARLY lenient in battle..”. Is this SIMILARLY is referring to Drona training Dhrishtadyumna? If yes, wasn’t Drona just performing his Dharma (to impart training to anyone who approaches him) which cannot be considered leniency. Kindly help.
Transcript
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Question by Purva Pradhan.
In the purport to Bhagavad Gita 1.3, Shri Prabhupada says, by this he wanted to point out that he should not be similarly lenient in battling. Is this similarly referring to Drona training Dhristadyumna? If yes, wasn’t Drona just performing his dharma to impart training to anyone who approaches him, which cannot be considered leniency? Answer? Yes. The important point over here to understand is that Duryodhana was always suspicious about the loyalty of both Drona and Bhishma.
He knew that they were affectionate to the Pandavas and he knew that the Pandavas thought that was righteous and that’s why he always suspected their loyalty and that’s why he constantly tried various techniques and tricks to incite them, to provoke them to fight. So in this case, by referring to Drupada, his enemy, and then by referring to Drupada’s son Dhristadyumna as being the commander of the enemy, he’s pointing out that at least now seeing that your enemy and your enemy’s son is out there, please fight wholeheartedly. And as far as the leniency aspect is concerned, the important point is that a Kshatriya, especially on the battlefield, has to be not sentimental.
So the important point here is although Drona is not a Kshatriya, but he’s a Brahmana who’s playing the role of a Kshatriya, that’s why he’s fighting in the war. And even if he has had some some sentimental feelings of his sense of duty in teaching everyone, equally who approaches him, he should also recognize that now is not the time for that sort of sentimental attitude. Now is the time for wholehearted, determined, unhesitating fight.
So that is both Duryodhana’s intention in speaking, in referring to Drupada and Drupadaputra, and also actually Prabhupada in bringing that point out by saying that Drona should not be similarly sentimental or idealist, but should be practical and fearless in his battle.