Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 30
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
अन्वागतं वृष्णिवरं निशम्य त॑ं शत्रुमध्ये परिवर्तमानम् | प्रद्रावयन्तं कुरुपुज्वांश्व पुनः पुनश्च प्रणदन्तमाजौ
anvāgataṁ vṛṣṇivaraṁ niśamya taṁ śatrumadhye parivartamānam | pradrāvayantaṁ kurupūjvānś ca punaḥ punaś ca praṇadantam ājau |
Sañjaya sprach: Als man vernahm, dass Sātyaki, der vornehmste Held der Vṛṣṇis, gekommen sei und mitten unter den Feinden umherstreife, die wichtigsten Kuru-Kämpfer immer wieder zurückdrängend und auf dem Schlachtfeld wieder und wieder brüllend, überschütteten ihn deine Krieger mit Pfeilen wie Regenwolken, die Ströme auf einen Berg ergießen. Und doch konnten sie ihn nicht aufhalten—ungehemmt stand er da, wie die glühende Mittagssonne.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield dimension: steadfast courage, tactical mobility, and unwavering resolve under overwhelming attack. Ethically, it underscores how personal excellence and determination can remain unshaken even when opposed by many—yet it is framed within the tragic necessity of war rather than as a celebration of violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sātyaki, the foremost Vṛṣṇi warrior, has entered the enemy formation, moves among the opposing ranks, repeatedly drives back leading Kuru fighters, and roars in challenge. The Kaurava side responds by showering him with arrows like torrential rain, but they still cannot stop his advance, likened to the unstoppable midday sun.
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