Shloka 7
अर्जुनस्य गुरुधर्मविलापः तथा शैनेयकर्णयोर्युद्धारम्भः | Arjuna’s Lament on Guru-Dharma and the Opening of the Sātyaki–Karṇa Duel
उनके कंधे और चाल-ढाल वृषभके समान थे। नेत्र भी वृषभके ही तुल्य बड़े-बड़े थे। वे नरश्रेष्ठ सात्यकि आपके सैनिकोंके बीचमें उसी प्रकार सुशोभित होते थे, जैसे गौओंके झुंडमें साँड़की शोभा होती है ।। मत्तद्विरदसंकाशं मत्तद्विरदगामिनम् | प्रभिन्नमिव मातडूं यूथमध्ये व्यवस्थितम्
mattadvirada-saṅkāśaṃ mattadvirada-gāminam | prabhinnam iva mātaṅgaṃ yūtha-madhye vyavasthitam ||
Sañjaya sprach: Sātyaki, der Vortrefflichste der Männer, erschien mitten unter deinen Truppen wie ein brünstiger Elefant—gewaltig an Gestalt und schreitend im Gang eines rasenden Stoßzähners—wie ein großer Elefant, der in die Mitte einer Herde eingebrochen ist.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary courage and martial energy can dominate a battlefield; ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between individual valor (a kṣatriya ideal) and the tragic setting of a war fought among relatives under the pressure of duty and prior commitments.
Sañjaya describes Sātyaki’s appearance and movement within the Kaurava ranks, comparing him to a powerful rutting elephant that has broken into the middle of a herd—an image meant to convey his intimidating presence and aggressive advance among enemy soldiers.