Shloka 343
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
रुक्माड्दी रुक्मवर्मा रुक्मपुड्खैरवारयत् । तदनन्तर सोनेके केयूर और सोनेके ही कवच धारण करनेवाले सुवर्णमय ध्वजासे सुशोभित कृतवर्माने सोनेकी पीठवाले अपने विशाल धनुषकी टंकार करके स्वर्णमय पंखवाले बाणोंसे सात्यकिको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया
Rukmādī Rukmavarmā rukmapuḍkhair avārayat | tadanantaraṁ suvarṇake yūrakavacadhārī suvarṇamaya-dhvajena suśobhitaḥ Kṛtavarmā suvarṇapīṭhaṁ mahaddhanuḥ ṭaṅkāraṁ kṛtvā suvarṇapakṣair bāṇaiḥ Sātyakiṁ agre gacchantaṁ nivārayām āsa |
Sañjaya sprach: Rukmavarmā und die anderen hielten ihn mit Pfeilen auf, deren Nocken golden waren. Dann ließ Kṛtavarmā—geschmückt mit goldenem Banner, goldenen Armreifen und goldenem Harnisch—seinen großen Bogen mit goldenem Rücken dröhnen und hemmte Sātyakis Vorrücken mit goldbeflügelten Pfeilen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: warriors, bound to their side and duty, employ skill and intimidation to restrain an advancing foe. It also suggests that outward splendor (golden arms and standards) serves as a psychological instrument in battle, yet does not itself determine righteousness—only steadfast adherence to one’s chosen duty does.
Sañjaya describes how Rukmavarmā and others first check the opponent with golden-nocked arrows. Immediately after, Kṛtavarmā, magnificently equipped, twangs his great bow and shoots golden-feathered arrows to stop Sātyaki from moving forward.