Shloka 6
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
शरपातमहावर्ष रथघोषबलाहकम् । कार्मुकाकर्षविक्षेपं नाराचबहुविद्युतम्,उस समय द्रोणाचार्य अश्वरूपी वायुसे संचालित अनिवार्य मेघके समान हो रहे थे। बाणोंका प्रहार ही उनके द्वारा की जानेवाली महावृष्टि था। रथकी घर्घराहट ही मेघकी गर्जना थी, धनुषका खींचना ही धारावाहिक वृष्टिका साधन था, बहुत-से नाराच ही विद्युतके समान प्रकाशित होते थे, उस मेघने खड़ग और शक्तिरूपी अशनिको धारण कर रखा था और क्रोधके वेगसे ही उसका उत्थान हुआ था
sañjaya uvāca | śarapātamahāvarṣa rathaghoṣabalāhakam | kārmukākarṣavikṣepaṃ nārācabahuvudyutam ||
Sañjaya said: “It was like a great rain-cloud pouring down a deluge of arrows; its thunder was the roar of chariots; the drawing and release of bows became the continuous downpour; and countless nārāca shafts flashed like lightning. Thus did Droṇa, driven by the wind of battle, rise as an irresistible storm—an image of war’s terrible momentum, where skill and wrath together become a force that overwhelms all restraint.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial skill, when propelled by anger and the momentum of battle, can become an overwhelming force. Ethically, it warns that even disciplined prowess (a teacher-warrior like Droṇa) can resemble an uncontrollable storm when restraint is eclipsed—inviting reflection on dharma as not only duty in war but also mastery over wrath.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa’s combat as a storm-cloud: arrows fall like torrential rain, chariot-noise thunders like cloud-roar, bow-drawing and release create the continuous downpour, and iron shafts flash like lightning. It is a vivid report of Droṇa’s fierce offensive on the battlefield.