Mahabharata 7.118.32 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 118, Shloka 32
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
कृतवर्मा तु शैनेयं षड़्विंशत्या समार्पयत्
kṛtavarmā tu śaineyaṃ ṣaḍviṃśatyā samārpayat
সঞ্জয় বললেন—তখন কৃতবর্মা শৈনেয়কে ছাব্বিশ জন যোদ্ধার হাতে সমর্পণ করল; যুদ্ধের ক্রমবর্ধমান উন্মত্ততার মধ্যে এক প্রধান বীরের উপর শক্তির পরিকল্পিত কেন্দ্রীকরণই যেন তা।
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.
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