Shloka 373
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
सज्यं चकार तदपि चिच्छेदास्य च सात्यकि: । तब भरद्वाजनन्दन द्रोणने पलक मारते-मारते दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ायी; परंतु सात्यकिने उनके उस धनुषको भी काट डाला
sa-jyaṃ cakāra tad api cicchedāsya ca sātyakiḥ | tadā bharadvājanandanaḥ droṇaḥ palakṣaṃ mārate-mārate dvitīyaṃ dhanuḥ hastam ānīya tasmin pratyāñcaṃ samāropayat; kintu sātyakinā tad api dhanuś chinnaṃ ||
সঞ্জয় ক’লে—ভৰদ্বাজনন্দন দ্ৰোণে ধনুত জ্যা চঢ়ালে; কিন্তু সাত্যকিয়ে সেয়াও ছিন্ন কৰিলে। তাৰপিছত দ্ৰোণে পলকতে দ্বিতীয় ধনু লৈ তাত প্ৰত্যঞ্চা আৰোপ কৰিলে; তথাপি সাত্যকিয়ে সেই ধনুও কাটি পেলালে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and determination in war can rapidly intensify conflict: Droṇa’s unbroken aggression meets Sātyaki’s equally decisive counter. Ethically, it points to the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—martial excellence fulfills kṣatriya duty, yet it also accelerates harm, demanding discernment about ends and means.
In the midst of battle, Droṇa strings his bow, but Sātyaki cuts it. Droṇa immediately takes up a second bow and strings it as he continues attacking, and Sātyaki cuts that bow as well—showing rapid exchanges and dominance in the moment through weapon-disabling tactics.