Shloka 46
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
सोअन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय शत्रुघ्न भारसाधनम् | द्रौर्णिं षष्ट्या महाराज बाह्दोरुरसि चार्पयत्,महाराज! तब सात्यकिने भार-साधनमें समर्थ एवं शत्रुविनाशक दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर साठ बाणोंद्वारा अश्वत्थामाकी भुजाओं तथा छातीको छेद डाला
so 'nyat kārmukam ādāya śatrughna-bhāra-sādhanam | drauṇiṁ ṣaṣṭyā mahārāja bāhvor urasi cārpayat ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces, oh Rey, Sātyaki tomó otro arco—poderoso para soportar la carga de la batalla y mortífero para los enemigos—y clavó sesenta flechas en Aśvatthāmā, el hijo de Droṇa, hiriéndole los brazos y el pecho. La escena subraya la escalada implacable del combate: la destreza y la determinación se vuelcan en la destrucción, y el valor es inseparable del grave peso moral de la violencia.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence and steadfastness in war (kṣatriya-dharma) can coexist with the sobering ethical reality that victory is pursued through injury and destruction; it invites reflection on the moral weight carried by warriors even when acting within their duty.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki, switching to another strong bow, shoots sixty arrows at Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son), piercing his arms and chest—an intense exchange within the Kurukṣetra battle.