Shloka 163
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
नाकुलिस्तु शतानीको रथानीकमयोधयन् । पांचालराजपुत्र धृष्टद्युम्न, महारथी शिखण्डी और नकुलपुत्र शतानीक--ये आपकी रथसेनाके साथ युद्ध कर रहे थे
Nākulis tu Śatānīko rathānīkam ayodhayan | Pāñcālarāja-putro Dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathī Śikhaṇḍī ca Nakula-putraḥ Śatānīkaḥ—ete tava ratha-senayā saha yuddham akurvan |
Sañjaya said: Nakula’s son Śatānīka was engaging the chariot-division in battle. Along with him, Dhṛṣṭadyumna—the son of the king of the Pāñcālas—and the great chariot-warrior Śikhaṇḍī were fighting against your chariot forces.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, role-based nature of kṣatriya warfare: named leaders and defined divisions meet in ordered combat. Ethically, it reflects the epic’s emphasis on duty (dharma) as action within one’s station, even amid the tragedy of war.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Nakula’s son Śatānīka, together with Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the great warrior Śikhaṇḍī, is actively fighting against the Kauravas’ chariot forces, engaging a specific chariot-division (rathānīka).