Shloka 56
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
विव्याध च सुतीक्ष्णेन पृषत्केन महामृथे । परीप्सन् स्वसुतं राजन् वार्ष्णेयेनाभिपीडितम्,राजन्! उस महायुद्धमें सात्यकिद्वारा पीड़ित हुए अपने पुत्रकी रक्षा करनेके लिये आचार्यने तीखे बाणसे उन्हें घायल कर दिया
vivyādha ca sutīkṣṇena pṛṣatkena mahāmṛdhe | parīpsan svasutaṃ rājan vārṣṇeyenābhipīḍitam ||
Sañjaya sprach: In jener großen Schlacht verwundete der Lehrmeister, um seinen eigenen Sohn zu schützen, den Sātyaki aus dem Geschlecht der Vṛṣṇis hart bedrängte, ihn mit einem scharfen Pfeil.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain of warfare: personal attachments (a father's concern for his son) can override ideals of impartial conduct, even for a revered teacher. It invites reflection on how dharma becomes complex when duty, affection, and survival intersect on the battlefield.
During the great battle, Aśvatthāman is being heavily attacked by Sātyaki. Droṇa, intent on saving his son, shoots a sharp arrow and wounds the assailant, intervening directly to relieve the pressure.