Shloka 56
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
छादयित्वा रणे राजन हार्दिक्यं स तु सात्यकि: | अथास्य भल्लेन शिर: सारथे: समकृन्तत,राजन! रणक्षेत्रमें इस प्रकार कृतवर्माको आच्छादित करके सात्यकिने एक भल्ल द्वारा उसके सारथिका सिर काट दिया
chādayitvā raṇe rājan hārdikyaṃ sa tu sātyakiḥ | athāsya bhallena śiraḥ sārather samakṛntata rājan ||
Sañjaya said: O King, having covered (overwhelmed) Hārdikya in the battle, Sātyaki then, with a sharp arrow, severed the head of his charioteer. Thus the combat intensifies into ruthless, targeted violence, where victory is pursued even through the killing of supporting warriors, reflecting the grim ethical erosion that accompanies prolonged war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how prolonged conflict can harden conduct: even those not directly dueling (like charioteers) become targets. It invites reflection on kṣatriya duty versus the moral costs of victory-driven warfare.
Sātyaki overwhelms Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman) in the fight and then severs the head of Kṛtavarman’s charioteer with a bhalla-arrow, intensifying the battle’s brutality.