Shloka 29

Rātri-yuddhe Droṇasya prahāraḥ — Bhīmasenasya dhārtarāṣṭra-śūrānām nigrahaḥ

Night Battle: Droṇa’s Assault and Bhīma’s Suppression of Dhārtarāṣṭra Warriors

Devanagari script

सात्यकिं चैव सम्प्रेक्ष्य युध्यमानं महारथम्‌ । रथेन यत्त: कौन्तेयो वेगेन प्रययौ तदा,उस समय कुन्तीकुमार भीमसेन भोजवंशियोंकी सेनाको लाँधकर दरदोंकी विशाल वाहिनीको पार कर गये तथा बहुत-से युद्धविशारद म्लेच्छोंको परास्त करके महारथी सात्यकिको शत्रुओंके साथ युद्ध करते देख सावधान हो रथके द्वारा वेगपूर्वक आगे बढ़े

Transliteration

sātyakiṃ caiva samprekṣya yudhyamānaṃ mahāratham | rathena yattaḥ kaunteyo vegena prayayau tadā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Sātyaki—the great chariot-warrior—engaged in fierce combat, the son of Kuntī (Bhīmasena), harnessing his chariot with resolve, surged forward at speed. The moment underscores a kinsman’s duty in war: recognizing an ally in peril and responding without hesitation, not for personal glory but to uphold solidarity and righteous obligation amid the chaos of battle.

Word by Word

• {'sātyakim': 'Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna), a foremost Vṛṣṇi warrior and ally of the Pāṇḍavas', 'caiva': 'and indeed

• also', 'samprekṣya': 'having seen

• observing carefully', 'yudhyamānam': 'fighting

• engaged in battle', 'mahāratham': 'a great chariot-warrior

• one of the highest class of fighters', 'rathena': 'by/with a chariot', 'yattaḥ': 'striving

• intent and prepared', 'kaunteyaḥ': 'son of Kuntī

• here referring to Bhīmasena', 'vegena': 'with speed

• forcefully', 'prayayau': 'went forth

• rushed', 'tadā': 'then

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sātyaki (Yuyudhāna)
• Kaunteya (Bhīmasena)
• Ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as loyal protection of comrades: when a righteous ally is seen locked in danger, one should act decisively and promptly, subordinating hesitation and self-interest to duty and solidarity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma, noticing Sātyaki fighting amid enemies, readies himself and drives his chariot forward rapidly—an urgent movement to support Sātyaki in the ongoing battle.