Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता: पउचाला भरतर्षभ | शिनेर्नप्ता महाबाहुरन्वपद्यत सात्यकि:,भरतश्रेष्ठ] उनकी उस गर्जनासे पांचाल-सैनिक थर्रा उठे। उस समय शिनिपौत्र महाबाहु सात्यकि उन शत्रुओंका सामना करनेके लिये आये
tena śabdena vitrastāḥ pāñcālā bharatarṣabha | śiner naptā mahābāhur anvapadyata sātyakiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: At that roar, the Pāñcāla troops were shaken with fear, O bull among the Bharatas. Then Sātyaki—the mighty-armed grandson of Śini—advanced to meet and confront those foes.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights battlefield ethics of kṣatriya conduct: fear can spread through an army, but a steadfast champion counters it by stepping forward to face danger, restoring resolve through courageous action.
A thunderous roar (from an opposing warrior or force) frightens the Pāñcāla troops. In response, Sātyaki—renowned for valor—moves forward to confront the enemy and meet the threat directly.