Shloka 51
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य द्रोणाभिमुख्यं तथा सात्यकि-कर्ण-समागमः
Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s advance toward Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Karṇa confrontation
निकृत्तभुजमासीनं छिन्नहस्तमिव द्विपम् । शलके बड़े भाई प्रचुर दक्षिणा देनेवाले भूरिश्रवा सर्वथा निष्पाप थे। पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने उनकी बाँह काटकर उनका वध-सा ही कर दिया था और इसीलिये वे आमरण अनशनका निश्चय लेकर ध्यान आदि अन्य कार्योमें आसक्त हो गये थे। उस अवस्थामें सात्यकिने बाँह कट जानेसे सूँड़ कटे हाथीके समान बैठे हुए भूरिश्रवाको मार डालनेकी इच्छा की || ५०६ || क्रोशतां सर्वसैन्यानां निन्द्यमान: सुदुर्मना:,उस समय समस्त सेनाके लोग चिल्ला-चिल्लाकर सात्यकिकी निन्दा कर रहे थे। परंतु सात्यकिकी मनोदशा बहुत बुरी थी। भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण तथा महात्मा अर्जुन भी उन्हें रोक रहे थे। भीमसेन, चक्ररक्षक युधामन्यु और उत्तमौजा, अश्वत्थामा, कृपाचार्य, कर्ण, वृषसेन तथा सिंधुराज जयद्रथ भी उन्हें मना करते रहे, किंतु समस्त सैनिकोंके चीखने-चिल्लानेपर भी सात्यकिने उस व्रतधारी भूरिश्रवाका वध कर ही डाला
nikṛttabhujam āsīnaṃ chinnahastam iva dvipam | krośatāṃ sarvasainyānāṃ nindyamānaḥ sudurmanāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Bhūriśravas, his arm severed, sat there like an elephant whose trunk has been cut off. As all the warriors cried out and condemned the act, Sātyaki—his mind darkened and agitated—pressed on with the intent to kill him. Though Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, and many others on both sides, tried to restrain him, Sātyaki, unmoved by the outcry of the entire host, slew the vow-observing Bhūriśravas—an act widely judged blameworthy because it struck a disarmed, ascetic-minded foe.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, dharma sets limits: killing a disarmed, vow-observing opponent is portrayed as blameworthy. The passage highlights how anger and wounded pride can override restraint, and how public censure and wise counsel may still fail when one’s mind is seized by passion.
Bhūriśravas, after his arm has been cut off, sits withdrawn like a maimed elephant, having turned toward a vow/fasting resolve. Sātyaki nevertheless seeks to kill him; despite attempts by Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, and many warriors to stop him, Sātyaki proceeds and kills Bhūriśravas amid the loud condemnation of the assembled armies.