Shloka 32
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
कृतवर्मा तु शैनेयं षड़्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
kṛtavarmā tu śaineyaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā samārpayat
قال سانجيا: إن كريتافَرما عندئذٍ كلَّف «شاينيَيا» أن يُواجَه بيدِ ستةٍ وعشرينَ من المحاربين—تركيزٌ مقصودٌ للقوة على مقاتلٍ بارزٍ واحد، وسط تصاعدِ عنفِ المعركة واتساعِ لهيبها.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, leaders may concentrate overwhelming force against a key opponent; ethically, it invites reflection on the tension between tactical necessity and fairness, and how escalation can intensify adharma-like outcomes even when framed as kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛtavarmā directs that Śaineya (Sātyaki) be engaged by twenty-six fighters, suggesting a coordinated attempt to check or neutralize Sātyaki’s effectiveness on the battlefield.