
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)
Upa-parva: Karna–Bhīmasena Saṅgrāma (Tactical Engagement Episode within Droṇa-parva)
Saṃjaya reports that Karṇa, having been defeated and made chariotless by Bhīma, mounts another chariot and immediately strikes the Pāṇḍava warrior. A sustained exchange of arrows follows, described through similes of powerful animals clashing. Bhīma answers Karṇa’s volleys with denser counter-fire, then launches a heavy mace toward the sūtaputra; the mace strike disables Karṇa’s chariot team, and Bhīma further cuts down the standard and strikes the charioteer, leaving Karṇa on a compromised vehicle. The narration marks this as an extraordinary display of Rādheya’s resilience even while chariotless. Observing Karṇa’s predicament, Duryodhana commands Durmukha to bring him a chariot; Durmukha advances and attempts to check Bhīma with arrows. Bhīma sends a chariot toward Durmukha and, in the same moment, dispatches him with nine well-feathered shafts. Karṇa mounts the offered chariot, shines again in battle, then pauses in visible grief upon seeing Durmukha’s body, circumambulates him, and resumes combat. Bhīma and Karṇa exchange fourteen nārācas each; Karṇa’s counter strikes pierce Bhīma’s left arm, causing heavy bleeding. Bhīma retaliates with swift arrows against Karṇa and his charioteer; Karṇa, unsettled by Bhīma’s force, withdraws rapidly from the immediate engagement, while Bhīma remains poised, bow drawn, described as blazing like fire.
Chapter Arc: संजय धृतराष्ट्र से कहते हैं कि द्रोण-पर्व के रण में केकयराज बृहत्क्षत्र के आगमन से कौरव-सेना में हलचल मचती है, और क्षेमधूर्ति उनके वक्ष पर तीव्र बाण-वर्षा कर युद्ध का द्वार खोल देता है। → क्षेमधूर्ति क्रोध में आकर तीखे भल्ल से बृहत्क्षत्र का धनुष काट देता है; उधर त्रिगर्त-पुत्र निरमित्र कौरव-वाहिनी को व्यथित करता हुआ रथ से गिरता है। युद्ध ‘तुमुल’ और ‘प्रेक्षणीय’ बन जाता है—सिद्ध-चारण तक विस्मित होकर देखते हैं। इसी बीच सात्यकि (युयुधान) अपनी युद्ध-उन्मत्त गति से कौरव-पंक्तियों को तोड़ने लगता है। → सात्यकि के शराघात से मगध-सैनिकों सहित कौरव-व्यूह भंग हो जाता है; भागते हुए शेष सैनिकों को देखकर स्पष्ट होता है कि रण-भूमि में उस क्षण निर्णायक दबाव सात्यकि के पक्ष में चला गया है। → महायशस्वी सात्यकि कौरव-सेना का विनाश कर अपने श्रेष्ठ धनुष को विधुन्वाता हुआ रण में चमकता है; भयभीत और तितर-बितर कौरव-सेना पुनः युद्ध के लिए सामने नहीं आती। → कौरव-पक्ष के बिखरने के बाद अगला प्रश्न यह रह जाता है कि कौन-सा वरिष्ठ योद्धा आगे बढ़कर सात्यकि के वेग को रोकेगा और व्यूह को फिर से बाँधेगा।
Verse 1
/ भीकम (2 अमान सप्ताधिकशततमो< ध्याय: कौरव-सेनाके क्षेमधूर्ति, वीरधन्वा, निरमित्र तथा व्याप्रदत्तका वध और दुर्मुख एवं विकर्णकी पराजय संजय उवाच बृहत्क्षत्रमथायान्तं कैकेयं दृढविक्रमम् । क्षेमधूर्तिरमहाराज विव्याधोरसि मार्गणै:
Sañjaya said: “O King, as the mighty warrior Bṛhatkṣatra of the Kaikeya land advanced with unshakable valor, Kṣemadhūrti pierced him in the chest with arrows.”
Verse 2
संजय कहते हैं--महाराज! तदनन्तर सुदृढ़ पराक्रमी केकयराज बृहत्क्षत्रकों आते देख क्षेमधूर्तिने अनेक बाणोंद्वारा उनकी छातीमें गहरी चोट पहुँचायी ।। बृहत्क्षत्रस्तु तं राजा नवत्या नतपर्वणाम् | आजजलमेने त्वरितो राजन् द्रोणानीकबिभित्सया,राजन! तब राजा बृहत्क्षत्रने भी झुकी हुई गाँठवाले नब्बे बाणोंद्वारा तुरंत ही द्रोणाचार्यके सैन्यव्यूहका विघटन करनेकी इच्छासे क्षेमधूर्तिको घायल कर दिया
Sañjaya said: “O King, thereafter, seeing the mighty Kekaya ruler Bṛhatkṣatra advancing, Kṣemadhūrti struck him hard in the chest with many arrows. But Bṛhatkṣatra, swift and resolute in the press of battle, wounded that crafty fighter with ninety arrows whose joints were bent, driven by the desire to break up Droṇa’s battle-array.”
Verse 3
क्षेमधूर्तिस्तु संक्रुद्ध: कैकेयस्य महात्मन: । धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन ह,इससे क्षेमधूर्ति अत्यन्त कुपित हो उठा और उसने पानीदार तीखे भल्लसे महामनस्वी केकयराजका धनुष काट डाला
Sañjaya said: Enraged, Kṣemadhūrti struck at the great-souled king of the Kaikeyas and, with a gleaming, razor-sharp bhalla arrow, cut his bow in two.
Verse 4
अथीैनं छिन्नधन्वानं शरेणानतपर्वणा । विव्याध समरे तूर्ण प्रवरं सर्वधन्विनाम्,धनुष कट जानेपर समस्त धनुर्धरोंमें श्रेष्ठ बृहत्क्षत्रकों समरांगणमें झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणसे उसने तुरंत ही बींध डाला
Sañjaya said: Then, in the thick of battle, he swiftly pierced that warrior—now deprived of his bow—with an arrow whose joints were bent; he struck down one who was counted foremost among all archers.
Verse 5
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय बृहत्क्षत्रो हसन्निव । व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे क्षेमधूर्ति महारथम्,तदनन्तर बृहत्क्षत्रने दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर हँसते-हँसते महारथी क्षेमधूर्तिको घोड़ों, सारथि और रथसे हीन कर दिया
Sañjaya said: Then Bṛhatkṣatra took up another bow and, as if laughing, he stripped the great chariot-warrior Kṣemadhūrti of his chariot’s supports—horses, charioteer, and car—reducing him to helplessness in the midst of battle.
Verse 6
ततो5परेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च । जहार नृपते: कायाच्छिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्,इसके बाद दूसरे पानीदार तीखे भल्लसे राजा क्षेमधूर्तिके प्रज्वलित कुण्डलोंवाले मस्तकको धड़से अलग कर दिया
Sañjaya said: Then, with another sharp, gleaming bhalla-arrow, he severed the king’s head—adorned with blazing earrings—from his body.
Verse 7
तच्छिन्नं सहसा तस्य शिर: कुज्चितमूर्थजम् । सकिरीटं महीं प्राप्प बभौ ज्योतिरिवाम्बरात्,सहसा कटा हुआ घुँघराले बालोंवाला क्षेमधूर्तिका वह मस्तक मुकुटसहित पृथ्वीपर गिरकर आकाशसे टूटे हुए तारेके समान प्रतीत हुआ
Sañjaya said: In an instant, his severed head—crowned and framed with curly hair—fell to the earth, shining like a meteor broken from the sky.
Verse 8
त॑ निहत्य रणे हृष्टो बृहत्क्षत्रो महारथः । सहसाभ्यपतत सैन्यं तावकं पार्थकारणात्,रणक्षेत्रमें क्षेमधूर्तिका वध करके प्रसन्न हुए महारथी बृहत्क्षत्र यूधिष्ठिरके हितके लिये सहसा आपकी सेनापर टूट पड़े
Sañjaya said: Having slain them in battle and exulting, the great chariot-warrior Bṛhatkṣatra, for the sake of the son of Pṛthā (Yudhiṣṭhira), suddenly charged upon your army.
Verse 9
धृष्टकेतुं तथा5<यान्तं द्रोणहेतो: पराक्रमी । वीरधन्वा महेष्वासो वारयामास भारत,भारत! इसी प्रकार द्रोणाचार्यके हितके लिये महाधनुर्धर पराक्रमी वीरधन्वाने वहाँ आते हुए धृष्टकेतुको रोका
Sañjaya said: Then, as Dhṛṣṭaketu advanced, the mighty archer Vīradhānvā—acting for Droṇa’s sake—checked and held him back, O Bhārata.
Verse 10
तौ परस्परमासाद्य शरदंष्टी तरस्विनौ । शरैरनेकसाहसैरन्योन्यमभिजघध्नतु:,वे दोनों वेगशाली वीर बाणरूपी दाढ़ोंसे युक्त हो परस्पर भिड़कर अनेक सहस्र बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको चोट पहुँचाने लगे
Sañjaya said: The two mighty warriors closed with one another, like boars with sharp tusks, and then struck each other repeatedly with many thousands of arrows.
Verse 11
तावुभौ नरशार्दूलौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । महावने तीव्रमदौ वारणाविव यूथपौ,महान् वनमें तीव्र मदवाले दो यूथपति गजराजोंके समान वे दोनों पुरुषसिंह परस्पर युद्ध करने लगे
Sañjaya said: Those two tiger-like heroes fought each other face to face—like two rut-maddened lordly elephants clashing in a vast forest.
Verse 12
गिरिगह्वरमासाद्य शार्दूलाविव रोषितौ | युयुधाते महावीर्यों परस्परजिघांसया,दोनों ही महान् पराक्रमी थे और एक-दूसरेको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे रोषमें भरकर पर्वतकी गुफामें पहुँचकर लड़नेवाले दो सिंहोंके समान आपसमें जूझ रहे थे
Sañjaya said: Having reached a mountain cavern, the two mighty warriors—enraged and intent on killing one another—grappled and fought like two furious beasts meeting in a rocky gorge.
Verse 13
तद् युद्धमासीत तुमुल प्रेक्षणीयं विशाम्पते । सिद्धचारणसंघानां विस्मयाद्धुतदर्शनम्,प्रजानाथ! उनका वह घमासान युद्ध देखने ही योग्य था। वह सिद्धों और चारणसमूहोंको भी आश्चर्यजनक एवं अद्भुत दिखायी देता था
Sañjaya said: “O lord of the people, that battle became a thunderous, tumultuous spectacle—fit to be witnessed. Even to the assembled hosts of Siddhas and Cāraṇas it appeared astonishing, their gaze shaken with wonder at the extraordinary sight.”
Verse 14
वीरधन्वा ततः क्रुद्धो धृष्टकेतो: शरासनम् | द्विधा चिच्छेद भल्लेन प्रहसन्निव भारत,भरतनन्दन! तत्पश्चात् वीरधन्वाने कुपित होकर हँसते हुए-से ही एक भल्लद्वारा धृष्टकेतुके धनुषके दो टुकड़े कर दिये
Sañjaya said: Then Vīradhanvas, enraged, cut Dhṛṣṭaketu’s bow in two with a bhalla-arrow, as though laughing—O Bhārata, O delight of the Bharatas.
Verse 15
तदुत्सज्य धनुश्छिन्नं चेदिराजो महारथ: । शक्ति जग्राह विपुलां हेमदण्डामयस्मयीम्,महारथी चेदिराज धृष्टकेतुने उस कटे हुए धनुषको फेंककर एक लोहेकी बनी हुई स्वर्णदण्डविभूषित विशाल शक्ति हाथमें ले ली
Sañjaya said: Casting aside his bow that had been cut, the king of Cedi—a great chariot-warrior—seized a massive spear, made of iron and adorned with a golden shaft.
Verse 16
तां तु शक्ति महावीर्या दोर्भ्यामायम्य भारत । चिक्षेप सहसा यत्तो वीरधन्वरथं प्रति,भारत! उस अत्यन्त प्रबल शक्तिको दोनों हाथोंसे उठाकर यत्नशील धृष्टकेतुने सहसा वीरधन्वाके रथपर उसे दे मारा
Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, drawing back with both arms that mighty, power-laden spear, he—straining with intent—hurled it in a sudden cast straight toward the chariot of Vīradhanvas.
Verse 17
तया तु वीरघातिन्या शक्त्या त्वभिहतो भूशम् । निर्भिन्नहदयस्तूर्ण निषपपात रथान्महीम्,उस वीरघातिनी शक्तिकी गहरी चोट खाकर वीरधन्वाका वक्ष:स्थल विदीर्ण हो गया और वह तुरंत ही रथसे पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
Sañjaya said: Struck hard by that hero-slaying spear, he was grievously wounded; his heart was pierced, and he at once fell from his chariot onto the earth.
Verse 18
तस्मिन् विनिहते वीरे त्रैगर्तानां महारथे । बल॑ ते5भज्यत विभो पाण्डवेयै: समन्ततः,प्रभो! त्रिगर्तदेशके उस महारथी वीरके मारे जानेपर पाण्डव-सैनिकोंने चारों ओरसे आपकी सेनाको विघटित कर दिया
Sañjaya said: When that heroic great chariot-warrior of the Trigartas was slain, O mighty lord, the Pāṇḍava forces attacked from every side and shattered your army’s formation, breaking it apart.
Verse 19
सहदेवे तत: षष्टिं सायकान् दुर्मुखोक्षिपत् । ननाद च महानादं तर्जयन् पाण्डवं रणे,तदनन्तर दुर्मुखने रणक्षेत्रमें सहदेवपर साठ बाण चलाये और उन पाण्डुकुमारको डाँट बताते हुए बड़े जोरसे गर्जना की
Sañjaya said: Then Durmukha hurled sixty arrows at Sahadeva. With a mighty roar he taunted the Pāṇḍava in the midst of battle.
Verse 20
माद्रेयस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो दुर्मुखं च शितैः शरै: । भ्राता भ्रातरमायान्तं विव्याध प्रहसन्निव,यह देख माद्रीकुमार कुपित हो उठे। वे दुर्मुखके भाई लगते थे। उन्होंने अपने पास आते हुए भ्राता दुर्मुखको हँसते हुए-से तीखे बाणोंद्वारा बींध डाला
Sañjaya said: Then the son of Mādrī, angered, pierced Durmukha with sharp arrows. As Durmukha—like a brother to him—came toward him, he struck him as though with a smile.
Verse 21
त॑ रणे रभसं दृष्टवा सहदेवं महाबलम् | दुर्मुखो नवभिर्बाणैस्ताडयामास भारत,भारत! रणक्षेत्रमें महाबली सहदेवका वेग बढ़ता देख दुर्मुखने नौ बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें घायल कर दिया
Sañjaya said: Seeing the mighty Sahadeva surging forward with fierce momentum in the battle, Durmukha struck him on the field with nine arrows, wounding him.
Verse 22
दुर्मुबस्य तु भल्लेन छित्त्वा केतुं महाबल: । जघान चतुरो वाहांश्षतुर्भिनिशितै: शरै:,तब महाबली सहदेवने एक भल्लसे दुर्मुखकी ध्वजा काटकर चार तीखे बाणोंद्वारा उसके चारों घोड़ोंको मार डाला
Sañjaya said: Then the mighty warrior, with a broad-headed arrow, severed Durmukha’s banner; and with four keen shafts he struck down his four horses.
Verse 23
अथापरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन ह । चिच्छेद सारथे: कायाच्छिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्
Sañjaya said: Then, with another sharp bhalla arrow, yellow-hued and keen, he severed from the charioteer’s body the head adorned with blazing earrings.
Verse 24
फिर दूसरे पानीदार एवं तीखे भल्लसे उसके सारथिके चमकीले कुण्डलवाले मस्तकको धड़से काट गिराया ।। क्षुरप्रेण च तीक्ष्णेन कौरव्यस्य महद् धनु: । सहदेवो रणे छित्त्वा तं च विव्याध पञ्चभि:,तत्पश्चात् सहदेवने तीखे क्षुरप्रसे समरांगणमें दुर्मुखके विशाल धनुषको काटकर उसे भी पाँच बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Sahadeva severed the Kaurava’s great bow with a sharp kṣurapra arrow; and having thus broken his weapon, he struck him again with five shafts.
Verse 25
हताश्चृं तु रथं त्यक्त्वा दुर्मुखो विमनास्तदा । आरुरोह रथं राजन् निरमित्रस्थ भारत
Sañjaya said: Then Durmukha, his spirit broken, abandoned his own chariot and, downcast at that moment, mounted another chariot, O King—finding himself as one with no friendly support remaining.
Verse 26
राजन्! भरतनन्दन! तब दुर्मुख दुःखी मनसे उस अश्वहीन रथको त्यागकर निरमित्रके रथपर जा चढ़ा ।। सहदेवस्ततः क्रुद्धो निरमित्रं महाहवे । जघान पृतनामध्ये भललेन परवीरहा,इससे शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले सहदेव कुपित हो उठे और उन्होंने उस महासमरमें सेनाके बीचोबीच एक भल्लसे निरमित्रको मार डाला
Sañjaya said: O King, O joy of the Bharatas, then Durmukha, his mind distressed, abandoned that chariot bereft of horses and mounted the chariot of Niramitra. Thereupon Sahadeva, enraged in that great battle, struck down Niramitra in the very midst of the army with a broad-headed bhalla arrow—Sahadeva, the slayer of enemy heroes.
Verse 27
स पपात रथोपस्थान्निरमित्रो जनेश्वर: । त्रिगर्तराजस्य सुतो व्यथयंस्तव वाहिनीम्,त्रिगर्तराजका पुत्र राजा निरमित्र अपने वियोगसे आपकी सेनाको व्यथित करता हुआ रथकी बैठकसे नीचे गिर पड़ा
Sañjaya said: Niramitra, the king—son of the Trigarta ruler—who had been harassing and distressing your army, fell down from the chariot-platform.
Verse 28
त॑ तु हत्वा महाबाहुः सहदेवो व्यरोचत । यथा दाशरथी राम: खरं हत्वा महाबलम्,जैसे पूर्वकालमें दशरथनन्दन भगवान् श्रीराम महाबली खरका वध करके सुशोभित हुए थे, उसी प्रकार महाबाहु सहदेव निरमित्रको मारकर शोभा पा रहे थे
Sañjaya said: Having slain him, the mighty-armed Sahadeva shone in splendor—just as Rāma, son of Daśaratha, shone after killing the exceedingly powerful Khara.
Verse 29
हाहाकारो महानासीत् त्रिगर्तानां जनेश्वर । राजपुत्रं हतं दृष्टवा निरमित्र॑ं महारथम्,नरेश्वर! महारथी राजकुमार निरमित्रको मारा गया देख त्रिगर्तोंके दलमें महान् हाहाकार मच गया
Sañjaya said: “O lord of men, a great cry of lamentation arose among the Trigartas when they saw the prince—an unrivalled great chariot-warrior—slain.”
Verse 30
नकुलस्ते सुतं राजन् विकर्ण पृथुलोचनम् । मुहूर्ताज्जितवॉल्लोके तदद्भुतमिवा भवत्,राजन! नकुलने विशाल नेत्रोंवाले आपके पुत्र विकर्णको दो ही घड़ीमें पराजित कर दिया; यह अद्भुत-सी बात हुई
Sañjaya said: O King, Nakula overcame your son Vikarṇa, the wide-eyed warrior, within a mere moment. To all who witnessed it, the event seemed almost wondrous—so swiftly was the prince brought under control amid the press of war.
Verse 31
सात्यकिं व्याप्रदत्तस्तु शरै: संनतपर्वभि: । चक्रे<दृश्यं साश्वसूतं सध्वजं पृतनान्तरे,व्याप्रदत्तने झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा सेनाके मध्यभागमें घोड़ों, सारथि और ध्वजसहित सात्यकिको अदृश्य कर दिया
Sañjaya said: Then, with arrows whose joints were bent down, he so overwhelmed Sātyaki in the midst of the army that Sātyaki—together with his horses, charioteer, and banner—was made as if invisible.
Verse 32
तान् निवार्य शरान् शूर: शैनेय: कृतहस्तवत् | साश्व॒सूतध्वजं बाणैरव्याच्रिदत्तमपातयत्,तब शूरवीर शिनिनन्दन सात्यकिने सिद्धहस्त पुरुषकी भाँति उन बाणोंका निवारण करके अपने बाणोंद्वारा घोड़ों, सारथि और ध्वजसहित व्याप्रदत्तको मार गिराया
Sañjaya said: The heroic Śaineya (Sātyaki), with the practiced ease of a master archer, warded off those arrows. Then, with his own shafts, he struck down Avyāchṛdatta together with his horses, charioteer, and banner.
Verse 33
कुमारे निहते तस्मिन् मागधस्य सुते प्रभो । मागधा: सर्वतो यत्ता युयुधानमुपाद्रवन्,प्रभो! मगधनरेशके पुत्र राजकुमार व्याप्रदत्तके मारे जानेपर मगधदेशीय वीरोंने सब ओरसे प्रयत्नशील होकर युयुधानपर धावा किया
Sañjaya said: “O lord, when that young prince—the son of the king of Magadha—had been slain, the Magadhan warriors, roused on every side and straining with resolve, surged together to assail Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki). Thus grief and loyalty to their fallen royal heir turned at once into a collective, retaliatory onslaught amid the chaos of battle.”
Verse 34
विसृजन्त:ः शरांश्वैव तोमरांश्न सहस्रश: । भिन्दिपालांस्तथा प्रासान् मुदूगरान् मुसलानपि
Sañjaya said: They kept hurling volleys of arrows, and by the thousand cast spears as well—along with bhindipālas and prāsas, and even heavy clubs and musalas—so that the battle became a storm of weapons, driven by relentless martial resolve rather than restraint.
Verse 35
तांस्तु सर्वानू स बलवान् सात्यकिर्युद्धदुर्मद:
Sañjaya said: Then the mighty Sātyaki—intoxicated with the ardor of battle—confronted all of them, his strength and resolve undiminished.
Verse 36
मागधान् द्रवतो दृष्टवा हतशेषान् समन्ततः
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Magadhan troops fleeing in all directions, with only a remnant left after the slaughter, he perceived that their force had been broken and scattered on every side.
Verse 37
नाशयित्वा रणे सैन्यं त्वदीयं माधवोत्तम:
Sañjaya said: “Having destroyed your army in the battle, the foremost of the Mādhavas (Kṛṣṇa) …”
Verse 38
भज्यमानं बल॑ राजन् सात्वतेन महात्मना
Sañjaya said: O King, the army was being shattered by that great-souled Sātvata warrior—an image of irresistible force on the battlefield, where valor and resolve break formations and test the moral endurance of all who witness it.
Verse 39
ततो द्रोणो भृशं क्रुद्ध: सहसोदवृत्य चक्षुषी । सात्यकिं सत्यकर्माणं स्वयमेवाभिदुद्रुवे,तब अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भरे हुए द्रोणाचार्यने सहसा आँखें घुमाकर सत्यकर्मा सात्यकिपर स्वयं ही आक्रमण किया
Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa, inflamed with fierce anger, suddenly rolling his eyes, himself rushed straight at Sātyaki—renowned for deeds true to his vows. The moment underscores how wrath on the battlefield can drive even a master-warrior to immediate, personal retaliation, tightening the moral tension between disciplined duty and passion.
Verse 106
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत द्रोणपर्वके अन्तर्गत जयद्रथवधपर्वमें युधिष्चटिरका पलायनविषयक एक सौ छवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
Sanjaya said: Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Droṇa Parva—specifically in the section concerning the slaying of Jayadratha—the one hundred and sixth chapter, dealing with Yudhiṣṭhira’s flight, is concluded. The narration marks a formal closure of a chapter set amid the moral strain of war, where survival, duty, and strategic withdrawal are weighed against ideals of steadfastness and kingship.
Verse 107
इति श्रीमहाभारते द्रोणपर्वणि जयद्रथवधपर्वणि संकुलयुद्धे सप्ताधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
Sanjaya said: Thus, in the sacred Mahābhārata, within the Droṇa Parva—specifically in the section concerning the slaying of Jayadratha—this concludes the one-hundred-and-seventh chapter, describing the confused and densely entangled battle. The closing formula frames the narrative as a moral record of war, where duty, strategy, and the consequences of vows and violence converge.
Verse 346
अयोधयमन् रणे शूरा: सात्वतं युद्धदुर्मदम् । वे शूरवीर मागध-सैनिक बहुत-से बाणों, सहस्रों तोमरों, भिन्दिपालों, प्रासों, मुदगरों और मूसलोंका प्रहार करते हुए समरांगणमें रणदुर्जय सात्यकिके साथ युद्ध करने लगे
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, valiant warriors engaged the Sātvata hero—Sātyaki—who was intoxicated with the ardor of combat. The Magadha fighters, striking with volleys of arrows and with thousands of javelins, bhindipālas, spears, clubs, and maces, pressed him on the battlefield; yet he remained hard to overcome in war. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of kṣatriya warfare, where courage and discipline are tested amid overwhelming force.
Verse 356
नातिकृच्छाद्धसन्नेव विजिग्ये पुरुषर्षभ: । बलवान युद्धदुर्मद पुरुषप्रवर सात्यकिने हँसते हुए ही उन सबको अधिक कष्ट उठाये बिना ही परास्त कर दिया
Sañjaya said: Without much difficulty—indeed, as if smiling—Sātyaki, foremost of men, strong and intoxicated with the ardor of battle, overcame them all.
Verse 363
बल॑ ते5भज्यत विभो युयुधानशरार्दितम् । प्रभो! मरनेसे बचे हुए मागध-सैनिकोंको चारों ओर भागते देख सात्यकिके बाणोंसे पीड़ित हुई आपकी सेनाका व्यूह भंग हो गया
Sañjaya said: O mighty lord, your army’s formation broke apart, shattered by the arrows of Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki). Seeing the surviving Magadha soldiers fleeing in all directions in fear of death, the troops—already wounded by Sātyaki’s shafts—lost cohesion and the battle-array collapsed.
Verse 376
विधुन्वानो धनु: श्रेष्ठ व्यभश्राजत महायशा: । इस प्रकार मधुवंशके श्रेष्ठ वीर महायशस्वी सात्यकि रणक्षेत्रमें आपकी सेनाका विनाश करके अपने उत्तम धनुषको हिलाते हुए बड़ी शोभा पा रहे थे
Sañjaya said: The greatly renowned warrior shone brilliantly as he shook his excellent bow. Thus, Sātyaki—the illustrious hero, foremost of the Madhu line—having wrought destruction in your army on the battlefield, moved his superb bow and appeared in heightened splendor.
Verse 386
नाभ्यवर्तत युद्धाय त्रासितं दीर्घबाहुना । राजन! महामना महाबाहु सात्यकिके द्वारा डरायी गयी और तितत-बितर की हुई आपकी सेना फिर युद्धके लिये सामने नहीं आयी
Sañjaya said: O King, your army—alarmed and thrown into confusion by the long-armed, great-souled, mighty-armed Sātyaki—did not turn back to face battle again.
The chapter frames a dharma tension between relentless pursuit of advantage (including disabling chariot infrastructure and pre-empting reinforcements) and the intermittent demands of honor and grief, seen when Karṇa pauses to acknowledge Durmukha even as the engagement continues.
Capability in action is shown as relational and conditional: success depends on support systems, composure, and adaptive decision-making; emotional disturbance can briefly suspend strategic clarity, yet duty-driven re-entry remains a defining feature of kṣātra conduct.
No explicit phalaśruti is provided in this adhyāya; its significance is contextual, contributing to the epic’s cumulative reflection on agency, loss, and the ethical ambiguity of tactical necessity within the broader war narrative.