Shloka 1
Bhūriśravas–Sātyaki Saṃvāda and Duel; Arjuna’s Intervention (भूरिश्रवाः–सात्यकि संवादः, युद्धम्, अर्जुन-हस्तक्षेपः)
ऑपन--माज बछ। अप ऋाल पञ्चदशाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: सात्यकिके द्वारा कृतवर्माकी पराजय, त्रिगर्तोंकी गजसेनाका संहार और जलसंधका वध संजय उवाच शृणुष्वैकमना राजन् यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि । द्राव्यमाणे बले तस्मिन् हार्दिक्येन महात्मना,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! आप मुझसे जो कुछ पूछ रहे हैं, उसे एकाग्रचित्त होकर सुनिये। महामना कृतवमकि द्वारा खदेड़ी जानेके कारण जब पाण्डव-सेना लज्जासे नतमस्तक हो गयी और आपके सैनिक हर्षसे उललसित हो उठे, उस समय अथाह सैन्य- समुद्रमें थाह पानेकी इच्छावाले पाण्डव-सैनिकोंके लिये जो द्वीप बनकर आश्रयदाता हुआ (उस सात्यकिका पराक्रम श्रवण कीजिये)
sañjaya uvāca | śṛṇuṣvaikamanā rājan yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi | drāvyamāṇe bale tasmin hārdikyena mahātmanā |
Sañjaya said: “O King, listen with a focused mind to what you ask of me. When that host was driven back by the great-souled Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman), so that the Pāṇḍava army bowed its head in shame and your warriors exulted, then Sātyaki became like an island of refuge for the Pāṇḍavas seeking a foothold in that boundless ocean of troops. Hear now of Sātyaki’s valor.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid the chaos of war, steadiness of mind and the presence of a courageous protector can prevent collapse: when morale breaks and shame spreads, a single steadfast warrior can become a ‘refuge’ that restores order and resolve.
Sanjaya begins answering Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s question. He describes the Pāṇḍava forces being pushed back by Kṛtavarman (Hārdikya), the Kauravas rejoicing, and then introduces Sātyaki as the one who becomes a stabilizing refuge for the hard-pressed Pāṇḍavas, setting up the account of Sātyaki’s exploits.