Shloka 29
वासवी-शक्तेः प्रयोगः, घटोत्कच-वधोत्तर-शोकः, व्यासोपदेशश्च
The Vāsavī Spear’s Use, Post-Ghaṭotkaca Grief, and Vyāsa’s Counsel
रथोपस्थं समासाद्य मुमोह गतचेतन: । सुदृढ़ धनुष धारण करनेवाले बलवान सात्यकिके द्वारा समरभूमिमें अत्यन्त घायल किये जानेपर सोमदत्त रथकी बैठकमें जा बैठे और सुध-बुध खोकर मूर्च्छित हो गये || २८ न] त॑ विमूढं समालक्ष्य सारथिस्त्वरया युत:
rathopasthaṃ samāsādya mumoha gatacetanaḥ | sudṛḍhadhanurdhāraṇena balavatā sātyakinā samare bhṛśam abhihatas somadatto rathopasthe niṣasāda ca saṃjñāṃ hitvā mūrcchitaḥ ||
قال سنجيا: لما أُصيب سومدَتّا في ساحة القتال إصابةً بالغة على يد ساتيَكي الجبار، المشهور بحمل قوسٍ شديدٍ ثابت، انهار على مقعد عربته. خارت قواه وذهبت عنه الحواس؛ فسقط مُغشىً عليه. ولمّا رأى السائق سيده على تلك الحال، أسرع يتحرك لحمايته.
सयजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of embodied life amid warfare: even renowned warriors can lose consciousness when struck. It also points to dharma in action at the margins of battle—when a fighter falls, the immediate responsibility shifts to the charioteer/attendant to respond swiftly and protect the incapacitated master.
Sātyaki grievously wounds Somadatta in combat. Somadatta slumps onto the chariot-seat and faints. The next narrative movement (hinted by the fragment about the charioteer noticing him) is the charioteer reacting quickly upon seeing Somadatta stunned and unconscious.