Shloka 8
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
कृतवर्मा शिने: पौत्रं द्रोणं प्रेप्सुं विशाम्पते । पर्यवारयदायान्तं शूरं समरशोभिनम्,प्रजानाथ! द्रोणको अपने वशमें करनेकी इच्छासे आगे बढ़ते हुए संग्राममें शोभा पानेवाले शूरवीर सात्यकिको कृतवर्माने रोक दिया
kṛtavarmā śineḥ pautraṃ droṇaṃ prepsuṃ viśāmpate | paryavārayad āyāntaṃ śūraṃ samaraśobhinam ||
Sañjaya sprach: O Herr des Volkes, Kṛtavarmā hielt Sātyaki, den Enkel Śinis, auf—den Helden, der im Kampf erstrahlte—als er vorrückte, um Droṇa zu ergreifen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even a valorous, goal-driven advance (Sātyaki aiming at Droṇa) is immediately met by an opposing duty (Kṛtavarmā protecting his side’s commander). It illustrates how dharma in battle often appears as steadfast loyalty to one’s chosen obligation, expressed through disciplined resistance rather than unchecked aggression.
Sātyaki advances toward Droṇa with the intent to seize or overpower him, but Kṛtavarmā intercepts and blocks Sātyaki’s approach, preventing him from reaching Droṇa at that moment.