Shloka 13
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
तथा तस्मिन् बले शूरैर्वध्यमाने हतेडपि च | अस्मानभ्याययु: पार्था वृकोदरपुरोगमा:,इस प्रकार जब शूरवीरोंद्वारा वह सेना मारी जाने लगी और मारी गयी, तब कुन्तीके पुत्रोने भीमसेनको आगे रखकर हमलोगोंपर आक्रमण किया शरसम्भिन्नवर्माणौ तायुभौ भ्रातरौ रणे । सात्यकिं सत्यकर्माणं राजन् विव्यधतु: शरै: राजन! उन दोनोंके कवच बाणोंसे छिन्न-भिन्न हो गये थे, तो भी उन दोनों भाइयोंने रणभूमिमें सत्यकर्मा सात्यकिको बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया इति श्रीमहाभारते कर्णपर्वणि विन्दानुविन्दवधे त्रयोदशो 5ध्याय:
sañjaya uvāca |
tathā tasmin bale śūraiḥ vadhyamāne hate 'pi ca |
asmān abhyāyayuḥ pārthā vṛkodara-purogamāḥ ||
śara-sambhinna-varmāṇau tāv ubhau bhrātarau raṇe |
sātyakiṃ satya-karmāṇaṃ rājan vivyadhatuḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Even as that host was being cut down by heroes and lay slain, the sons of Pṛthā advanced against us with Bhīma (Vṛkodara) at their head. Though the armor of those two brothers had been shattered by arrows, they still, in the thick of battle, struck Sātyaki—renowned for deeds true to his vows—piercing him with their shafts, O King.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethic of battlefield duty: even when forces are collapsing and warriors are wounded, combatants continue out of allegiance and kṣatriya obligation. It also contrasts physical vulnerability (shattered armor) with steadfast resolve (continuing to fight).
As the army is being slaughtered, the Pāṇḍavas surge forward with Bhīma leading. Two brothers—despite their armor being broken by arrows—manage to pierce and wound Sātyaki with their shafts, as Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.