Shloka 11
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
गजों और गजारोहियोंने रथियों
kaikeyau sātyakiṃ yuddhe śaravarṣeṇa bhāsvatā | sātyakiḥ kekayau cāpi cchādayāmāsa bhārata ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—যুদ্ধে কেকয় বীর দীপ্তিমান তীরবৃষ্টিতে সাত্যকিকে আচ্ছন্ন করল; আর হে ভারত, সাত্যকিও পাল্টা কেকয়কে তেমনই তীরবৃষ্টিতে ঢেকে দিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the momentum of warfare: once combat is joined, even celebrated heroes respond to attack with counter-attack. It implicitly contrasts kṣatriya valor with the ethical cost of escalation—prowess becomes a cycle of retaliation rather than a space for restraint.
Sañjaya reports a duel-like exchange: a Kaikeya/Kekaya warrior showers Sātyaki with brilliant arrows, and Sātyaki immediately answers by covering his opponent with missiles as well, intensifying the battlefield clash.