Shloka 74
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 96: Sātyaki’s Line-Penetration, Encirclement, and Advance toward Arjuna
तथा दन्तिसहस्रेण मत्तानां वीर्यशालिनाम् । अश्वानां नियुतेनैव तथान्यैश्व महारथै:,महामना आचार्यके द्वारा अपने शरीरमें कवच बाँध जानेपर महाबाहु दुर्योधन प्रहार करनेमें कुशल एक सहख्र त्रिगर्तदेशीय रथियों, एक सहस््र पराक्रमशाली मतवाले हाथीसवारों, एक लाख घुड़सवारों तथा अन्य महारथियोंसे घिरकर नाना प्रकारके रणवाद्योंकी ध्वनिके साथ अर्जुनके रथकी ओर चला। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे राजा बलि (इन्द्रके साथ युद्धके लिये) यात्रा करते हैं
tathā dantisahasreṇa mattānāṁ vīryaśālinām | aśvānāṁ niyutenaiva tathānyaiś ca mahārathaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “In the same manner, surrounded by a thousand powerful, musth elephants, by a niyuta of horses, and by other great chariot-warriors as well, (Duryodhana) advanced toward Arjuna’s chariot amid the blare of diverse battle-instruments. It was like King Bali setting out for battle against Indra.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war often turns into a spectacle of power—numbers, noise, and entourages—yet such outward might does not settle the deeper ethical burden of violence; it instead signals escalation driven by pride and rivalry.
Sañjaya describes Duryodhana moving toward Arjuna’s chariot, heavily escorted by elephants, horses, and other elite warriors, with loud battle-music; the scene is compared to the asura-king Bali marching out to fight Indra.