Shloka 54
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
शराणां च सहस्रेण पुनरेव समुद्यतः । सात्यकिश्छादयामास ननाद च महाबल:,महाबली सात्यकिने पुनः एक हजार बाणोंकी वर्षा करके अश्वत्थामाको ढक दिया और बड़े जोरसे गर्जना की
śarāṇāṃ ca sahasreṇa punar eva samudyataḥ | sātyakiś chādayāmāsa nanāda ca mahābalaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Rising up once again, mighty Sātyaki showered Aśvatthāmā with a thousand arrows, covering him from view, and then roared aloud with great force—meant to assert dominance and rally resolve amid the chaos of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya battlefield ethic: decisive action, steadfastness after setbacks (“once again”), and the use of force and morale (the roar) to protect one’s side and uphold one’s duty in war.
Sātyaki renews his attack and releases a dense volley—described as a thousand arrows—so intense that Aśvatthāmā is effectively ‘covered’ by it; Sātyaki then roars, signaling confidence and intimidating the opponent.