Shloka 10
शतानीको नाकुलि: कर्णपुत्रं युवा युवानं वृषसेनं शरौचै: । समार्पयत् कर्णपुत्रश्न शूर: पाज्चालेयं शरवर्षैरनेकै:
Śatānīko Nākuliḥ Karṇaputraṁ yuvā yuvānaṁ Vṛṣasenaṁ śaraughaiḥ | samārpayat Karṇaputraś ca śūraḥ Pāñcāleyaṁ śaravarṣair anekaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: The youthful Śatānīka, son of Nakula, assailed Karṇa’s son—the young Vṛṣasena—with volleys of arrows. And that heroic son of Karṇa, in turn, struck the Pāñcāla prince with many showers of shafts. Thus, in the press of battle, each warrior answered the other’s attack with equal resolve, displaying the Kṣatriya code of meeting force with force and refusing to yield in the face of danger.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: courage, steadfastness, and the principle of answering an opponent’s assault without retreat. Ethically, it portrays reciprocal engagement—each warrior meets the other directly, demonstrating resolve and martial responsibility.
Sañjaya describes a duel-like exchange: Śatānīka (Nakula’s son) attacks Vṛṣasena (Karṇa’s son) with volleys of arrows, and Vṛṣasena retaliates by striking a Pāñcāla prince with repeated showers of arrows, intensifying the clash among allied champions.