Shloka 286
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
त्वरन् प्राच्छादयद् बाणैः शलभानामिव व्रजै: । इसके बाद द्रोणाचार्यने उतावले होकर टिट्ठीदलोंके समान अपने शीघ्रगामी बाणोंद्वारा घोड़े, सारथि, रथ और ध्वजसहित सात्यकिको आच्छादित कर दिया
tvaran prācchādayad bāṇaiḥ śalabhānām iva vrajaiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Hastening, Droṇācārya showered Sātyaki with a dense volley of arrows, covering him as swarms of locusts blanket the sky—an image of overwhelming force in the relentless ethics of battlefield duty, where mastery and resolve are tested without pause.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising momentum of kṣatriya warfare: skill and speed can overwhelm even a valiant opponent, and in the battlefield frame of dharma, steadfastness under pressure becomes a moral and martial test.
Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa, acting quickly, unleashes such a thick barrage of arrows that Sātyaki is ‘covered’ by them—compared to being enveloped by swarms of locusts—signaling a moment of severe tactical pressure.